'■-^: 




mtmmmmummm 



mmmm» 



mmmm 



■a^HMPMMiPMIWViHWfMM^aHM 



# LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, f 



Pp^¥ wnj#t^|jo # 

I UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ^j 



/^33^r- 



THE 



Shadow of the Bock, 



OTHER BELIG10U8 POEM8. 






NEW AND ENLARGED EDITION. 



3 . •rjToF.do;- 



YRIGHT '^ 



iV^JF YORK: 
ANSON D. F. RANDOLTH & CO., 

770 Broadway, cor. of Ninth St. 



r i^]ij 







J- f^ Art of Congress, in the year 1872, by 
Entered according to Act 01 ^-ongrc , 

Anson D. F. Randolph & Co., 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at 

Washington, D. C. 



EDWARD O. JENKINS, 

rniNTSR AND STEREOTYPER, 

20 Nortk William Street, N. Y. 



ROBERT RUTTER, 
BINDER, 
84 Beekman Street, N. Y. 



CONSIDER, 

Consider 
The lilies of the field whose bloom is brief 

We are as they ; 

Like them we fade away, 
As doth a leaf. 

Consider 
The sparrows of the air of small account j 

Our God doth view 
Whether they fall or mount — 

He guards us too. 

Consider 
The lilies that do neither spin nor toil. 

Yet are most fair ; 

What profits all this care 
And all this toil ? 

Consider 
The birds that have no barn nor har\'est weeb 

God gives them food ; 
Much more our Father seeks 

To do us good. 



The Poems contained in this Volume have 
been selected from many sources, and, so far as 
known, the names of the authors appended. The 
publisher has designed it as a companion-book to 
The Changed Cross, which has proved so accept- 
able to a large class of Christian readers. 



THE 

SHADOW OF THE BOCK 



AND OTHER POEMS. 



THE SHADOW OF THE ROCK. 

THE Shadow of the Rock 1 
Stay, Pilgrim, stay 1 
Niglit treads upon the heels of day ; 
There is no other resting-place this way. 
The Rock is near, 
The well is clear — 
Rest in the Shadow of the Rock I 

The Shadow of the Rock I 
The desert wide 
Lies round thee like a trackless tide, 
In waves of sand forlornly multiplicti. 
The sun is gone, 
Thou art alone — 
Rest in the Shadow of the Rock I 

The Shadow of the Rock 1 
All come alone ; 

(7) 



THE SEADO W OF THE BOCK. 



All, ever since the sun hath shone, 
Who ti'ayeled by this road have come alono. 
Be of good cheer — 
A home is here — 
Best in the Shadow of the Rock { 

The Shadow of the Rock I 
Night veils the land ; 
How the palms whisper as they stand I 
How the well tinkles faintly through the Band ! 
Cool water take 
Thy thirst to slake — 
Rest in the Shadow of the Kock I 

The Shadow of the Rock I 
Abide ! Abide I 
This Rock moves ever at thy side. 
Pausing to welcome thee at eventide. 
Ages are laid 
Beneath its shade — 
Rest in the Shadow of the Rock 1 

The Shadow of the Rock I 
Always at hand, 
Unseen it cools the noon-tide land, 
And quells the fire that flickers in the sand. 
It comes in sight 
Only at night — 
Rest in the Shadow of the Rock I 



THE SHADOW OF THE ROCK, 



The Shadow of the Rock 1 
'Mid skies storm-riven 
It gathers shadows out of heaven, 
And liolds them o'er us all night cool and even. 
Through the charmed air 
Dew falls not there — 
Rest in the Shadow of the Rock I 

The Shadow of the Rock ! 
To angels' eyes 
This Rock its shadow multiplies, 
And at this hour in countless places lies. 
One Rock, one shade, 
O'er thousands laid — 
Rest in the Shadow of the Rock I 

The Shadow of the Rock I 
To weary feet, 
That have been diligent and fleet. 
The sleep is deeper and the shade more sweet, 
O weary, rest I 
Thou art sore pressed — 
Rest in the Shadow of the Rock I 

The Shadow of the Rock I 
Thy bed is made ; 
Crowds of tired souls like thine are laid 
This night beneath the self-same placid shade* 



10 NIGHT SOSG. 



They who rest here 
Wake Tvith Heayen near — 
Rest in the Shadow of the Rock . 

The Shadow of the Rock t 
Pilgrim ! sleep sound ; 

In night's swift hours with silent bound, 

The Rock will put thee oyer leagues of ground, 

Gaining more way 

By night than day — 
Rest in the Shadow of the Rock I 

The Shadow of the Rock I 
One day of pain, 
Thou scarce wilt hope the Rock to gain, 
Yet there wilt sleep thy last sleep on the plain ■• 
And only wake 
In Heayen's daybreak — 
Rest in the Shadow of the Rock I 



NIGHT SONG. 

HEART, be still ! 
In the darkness of thy woe, 
Bow thee silently and low ; 
Comes to thee whate'er God will ; — 
Be thou still I 



NIGHT SONG. l\ 



Be tliou still ! 
Vainly all thy words are spoken ; 
Till the Word of God hath broken 
Life's dark mysteries — good or ill — 

Be thou still 1 

Sleep thou still ! 
'Tis thy Father's work of grace, 
Wait thou yet before His face, 
He'll thy sui'e deliverance will ; 

Keep thou still 1 

Lord my God 1 
By thy grace, O may I be 
All-submission, silently, 
To the chastenings of thy rod ; 

Lord my God I 

Shepherd, King 1 
From thy fullness, grant to me 
Still, yet fearless faith in Thee, 
Till, from night the day shall spring I 

Shepherd, King 1 



12 UPWARD. 



UP WA RD! 



rjPWARD, -wliere the stars fire burning, 
U Silent, silent in their turning 

Round the neyer-chariging pole ; 
Upward, where the sky is brightest, 
Upward, where the blue is lightest, 

Lift I now my longing soul I 

Far above that arch of gladness, 
Far beyond those clouds of sadness, 

Are the many mansions fau" I 
Far from pain, and sin, and folly. 
In that palace of the holy, 

I would find my mansion there I 

Where the glory brightly dwelleth, 
Where the new song sweetly swelleth, 

And the discord never comes ; 
Where life's stream is ever laving, 
And the palm is ever waving — 

That must be the home of homes I 

Where the Lamb on high is seated, 
By ten thousand voices greeted, 
Lord of lords and King of kings J 



HE KNOWETH ALL. 13 

Son of man, they cro-v\-n, they crown Him ! 
Son of God, they own, they own Him 1 
With His name the palace rings I 

Blessing, honor, without measure, 
Heavenly riches, earthly treasure, 

Lay we at His blessed feet ! 
Poor the praise that now we render ; 
Loud shall be our voices yonder, 

When before His Throne we meet I 



BE KNOWETH ALL. 

THE twilight falls, the night is near, 
I fold my work away, 
And kneel to One who bends to hear 
The story of the day. 

The old, old story ; yet I kneel 

To tell it at Thy call ; 
And cares grow lighter as I feel 

That Jesus knows them all. 

Yes, all ! The morning and the night, 

The joy, the grief, the loss, 
The roughened path, the sunbeam bright. 

The hourly thorn and cross. 
2 



14 SOME WARDS. 



Thou knowest all — I lean my head, 

My weary eyelids close ; 
Content and glad awhile to tread 

This path, since Jesus knows I 

And He has loved me ! All my heart 
"With answering love is stirred, 

And every anguished pain and smart 
Finds healing in the Word. 

So here I lay me down to rest, 

As nightly shadows fall, 
And lean, confiding, on His breast, 

Who knows and pities all 1 



HOME WA R D S! 

DROPPING down the troubled rivei, 
To the tranquil, tranquil shore ; 
Dropping down the misty river, 
Time's willow-shaded river, 

To the spring-embosomed shore ; 
Where the sweet light shineth ever, 
And the sun goes down no more. 
O wondrous, wondrous shore 1 

Dropping down the winding river, 
To the wide and welcome sea ; 



HOMEWARDS. 15 



Dropping down the narrow river, 
Man's weary, wayward river, 

To the bhie and ample sea ; 
Where no tempest wrecketh ever, 

Where the sky is fair and free ; 

O joyous, joyous sea 1 

Dropping down the noisy river, 

To our peaceful, peaceful home ; 
Dropping down the turbid river, 
Earth's bustling, crowded river. 

To our gentle, gentle home ; 
Where the rough roar riseth never. 

And the vexings cannot come ; 

O loved and longed for home I 

Dropping down the eddying river. 

With a Helmsman true and tried ; 
Dropping down the perilous river- 
Mortality's dark river. 

With a sm-e and Heavenly Guide ; 
Even Him who, to deliver 

My soul from death, hath died ; 

O Helmsman, true and tried 1 

Droppmg down the rapid river, 

To the dear and deathless land ; 
Dropping down the well-known river 
T.ifn's swoll'n and rushing river. 



1 e TEE L VIIs G CUP. 

To the resurrection-land ; 
Where the living, live for ever, 

And the dead have joined the band ; 
O fair and blessed land ! 



THE LO VING CUP. 

COME, drink ye, diink ye, all, of it, 
Pale childi'en of a King ; 
No poison mingles in the draught, 

So, while ye suffer, sing. 
Tis Love's own Life hath won it us, 

Christ's lip hath pressed the brim, — 
Come, di'ink ye, drink ye, all, of it, 
In fellowship with Him ! 

shun not thou the Loving Cup, 

]S"or tremble at its hue ; 
There is no bitter in the bowl. 

But Jesus drank it, too. 
He counts thy tears, and knows thy pain, 

Yea, every woe is weighed ; 
And not a cross He bids thee bear, 

But once on Him was laid. 

Come, drink thou of the Loving Cup / 
Thou wouldst not pass it by ? 

'Tis kept for every chosen one 
Of God's dear family : 



TEE SINNEE'6 FRIEND 17 

Nor, unbelieving, turn aside ; ^ 

The Lord the cup bestows ; 
And O His face, above thee bent, 

With love and pity glows ! 

Those hands, once bleeding on the Cross, 

Are now outstretched to bless ; 
He draws thee closer to His heart 

For that draught's bitterness ; 
He hears thy faintly sobbing breath, 

He marks each quivering limb ; 
He di"ank a cup for thee alone — 

Child 1 drink it now with Him. 

Let earth bring forth her bitter herbs, 

Soon all their power shall cease ; 
Come tribulation if it will, 

"With Christ's abiding Peac^e. 
I take the cup — the Loving Cup, 

Thrice blessed shall it be ; 
I would not miss one gift, O Lord, 

Thy Blood hath bought for me I 



THE SINNERS FRIEND. 

OTHOU, the contrite sinner's Friend, 
Who lo\ing, lov'st them to the end, 
On this alone my hopes depend, 
That Thou wilt plead for me 1 
2* 



18 THE SINNERS FRIEND. 



Wlien, weary in tlie Cliristian race, 
Far-off appears my resting-place, 
And fainting, I mistrust Thy grace — 
Then. Saviour, plead for me I 

When I have en''d and gone astray 
Afar fi-om Thine and Wisdom's way, 
And see no glimmering guiding ray — 
Still, Savioui-, plead for me I 

When Satan, by my sins made bold, 
Strives from Thy cross to loose my hoLl, 
Then with Thy pitying arms enfold, 
And plead, oh, plead for me 1 

And when my dying hour draws near, 
Darken'd with anguish, guilt, and fear, 
Then to my fainting sight appear, 
Pleading in Heaven for me 1 

When the full light of Heavenly day 
Reveals my sins in dread array, 
Say, Thou hast wash'd them all away ; 
Oh, say, Thou plead'st for me I 



THE WAY IS L ONO, ^ TO. \ 9 



THE WAY IS LONG AND DREAR? 

THE way is long and dreary, 
The path is bleak and bare ^ 
Our feet are worn and weary, 

But we will not despair. 
More heavy was Thy burthen, 

More desolate Thy way ; 
O Lamb of God, who takest 
The sin of the world away, 
Have mercy on us 1 

The snows lie thick around us, 

In the dark and gloomy night ; 
And the tempest wails above us, 

And the stars have hid their light. 
But blacker was the darkness 

Round Calvary's Cross that daj-. 
O Lamb of God, that takest 

Tlie sin of the world away, 
Have mercy on us I 

Our hearts are faint with sorrow, 

Heavy and sad to bear ; 
For we dread the bitter morrow, 

But we will not despair. 



i^O TSE DEATH OF A BELIEVER. 



Tliou knowest all our anguish, 
And Thou wilt bid it cease. 

O Lamb of God ! who takest 
The sin of the world away, 
Give us Thy peace I 



THE DEATH OF A BELIEVER. 

THE Apostle slept ; a light shone in the prison 
An angel touched his side ; 
" Arise," he said, and quickly he hath risen, 
His fettered arms untied. 

The watchers saw no light at midnight gleaming 

They heard no sound of feet ; 
The gates fly open, and the saint still dieaming, 

Stands free upon the street. 

So when the Christian's eyelid droops and closes 

In Nature's parting stnfe, 
A friendly angel stands where he reposes 

To wake him up to life. 

He gives a gentle blow, and so releases 

The spirit from its clay ; 
From sin's temptations and fi-om life's distresses 

He bids it come away. 



TBE D EA TH OF A BELIE FEE. 2 1 



It rises up, and from its darksome mansion 

It takes its silent fliglit, 
And feels its freedom in the large expansion 

Of Heavenly air and light. 

Behind, it hears Time's iron gates close faintly ; 

It is now far fi'om them, 
For it has reached the city of the saintly, 

The new Jerusalem I 

A voice is heard on earth of kinsfolk weeping 

The loss of one they love ; 
But he is gone where the redeemed are keeping 

A festival above. 

The mourners throng the way, and from the 
steeple 

The funeral-bell tolls slow ; 
But on the golden streets the holy people 

Are passing to and fro ; 

And saying, as they meet, " Rejoice I another 

Long-waited-for is come ; 
The Saviour's heart is glad, a younger brother 

Bath leached the Father's home I" 



22 £AE TH A XD HE A VEy. 



EARTH AXD HEAVEX. 

rpiIE roseate hues of early dawn, 
JL The brio-htness of the day ; 
The crimson of tlie sunset sky, 

How fast they fade away I 
Oh, for the pearly gates of Heaven ! 

Oh, for the golden floor ! 
Oh, for the Sun of Righteousness, 

That setteth nevermore 1 

The brightest hopes we cherish heae, 

How fast they tire and faint ; 
How many a spot detilcs the robe 

That wraps an earthly saint 1 
Oh, for a heart that never sins ! 

Oh, for a soul wash'd white 1 
Oh, for a voice to praise our King, 

Nor weary, day nor night I 

Here faith is ours, and Heavenly hope. 

And grace to lead us higher ; 
But there are perfectncss, and peace, 

Beyond oui' best desii'e. 
Oh, by Thy love, and anguish. Lord, 

And by Thy life laid down, 
Grant that we fall not from Thy graco, 

Nor cast away our crown 1 



UNDERTAKE FOB ME. 23 



UNDERTAKE FOR ME! 

AS those that watch for the day, 
Through the restless night of pain, 
Wlien the tirst faint streaks of gray 

Bring rest and ease again — 
As they turn their sleepless eyes 

The Eastern sky to see, 
Long hours before sunrise — 
So waiteth ray soul for Thee 1 

As those that watch for the day, 

Through the long, long night of grief^ 
When the soul can only pray 

That the day may bring relief, — 
When the eyes, with weeping spent, 

No dawn of hope can see, 
But the heart keeps watch intent, — 

So waiteth my soul for Thee ! 

As those that watch for the day. 

Through that deepest night of all, 
When trembling, and sin have sway, 

And the sliades of Thy absence fall ; 
As they search through clouds of fear 

The Morning Stai* to see. 
And the Light of Life appear — 

So waiteth my soul for Thee 1 



24 THE UyDL<COVERED COUXTKT. 



As those that watch for the day, 

And know that the day will rise, 
Though the wean houi-s delay. 

As they pass under midnight skies ; 
Though the Sun of Righteousness 

Only Faith's eye can see, 
Because Thou hast promised to bless — 

Lord Jesus, I wait for Thee I 



THE UXDISCOVERED COUNTRY, 

COIILD we but know 
The land that ends our dark, uncertain traveV 
Where lie those happier hills and meadows low 
Ah ! if beyond the spirit's inmost cavil 
Aught of that country could we surely know, 
'V^'ho would not go ? 

Might we but hear 
The hovering angels' high imagined chonis, 

Or catch, betimes, with wakeful eyes and clear, 
One radiant yista of the ivalm before us — 
"With one rapt moment given to see and heai, 
Ah, who would fear ? 

Were we quite sure 

To find the peerless friend who left us lonely, 

Or there, by some celestial stream as pure, 



THE AXSWEJi. 26 



To gaze in "yes that here were lovelit only— 
Tliis weary mortal coil, were we quite suie, 
Who would endure ? 



"W 



THE ANSWER. 
inO would not go" 



AVith buoyant steps, to gain that blessed 
portal. 
Which opens to the land we long to Icnow ? 
Where shall be satisfied the soul's immortal, 
Where we shall drop the wearying aud the wo 
lu resting so ? 

" Ah, who would fear ?" 
Since, sometimes through the distant pearly por- 
tal, 
Unclosing to some happy soul a-near. 
We catch a gleam of glorious light immortal, 
And sti-ains of heavenly music faintly hear, 
Breathing good cheer I 

" Wlio would endure " 
To walk in doubt and darkness with misgiving, 

Wh(m lie whose tender promises are sure — 
The Crucified, the Lord, the Ever-living— 
Keeps us those " mansions " evermore secure 
By waters pure ? 
8 



26 ARE THERE FEW SA f' ED, 



Oh, wondrous land ! 
Fairer llian all our spirit's fairest dreaming : 

'• Eye hatli not seen " — no heart can understand 
The things prepared, the cloudless radiance stream- 
ing. 
How longingly we wait our Lord's command-- 
His opening hand ! 

Oh, dear ones there I 
Whose voices, hushed, have left our pathway 
lonely, 
We come, ere long, yoar blessed home to share ; 
We take the guiding Hand, we trust it only — 
Seeing, by faith, beyond this clouded air, 
That land so fair ! 



LORD, ARE THERE FEW THAT BE SA VED, 

TTTnETHER there many be, or few, 
IT Elect the heavenly goal to win. 
Truly, I know not — this I know — 
That none who march with footsteps slow. 
That none who fight with hearts untrue, 
That none who serve with service cold, 
The Eternal City can behold, 
Or enter in. 



A uy: THERE FE W SA VED ? 2 7 



Whether there many be who thriTC 

In their vast suit for that vast love, 
Truly, I know not— this I know — 
That love lives not in outward show ; 
That but to seek is not to strive ; 
That thankless praises, empty prayers 
Can claim no bond, for will of theirs 
His court to move. 



How long the door, unfastened now, 

Shall open by His grace remain, 
Truly, I know not— this I know — 
If once that grace aside He throw, 
No tear, no sigh, no anguished vow, 
Gnashing of teeth, wringing of hands, 
Shall draw the bolts and loose the bands 
Ever again. 

How long His wi'ath may yet forbear, 

And sheathe His sword, and hide His rod, 
Truly, I know not — this I know — 
He points the arrows of His bow. 
While speed apace that night of fear, 
Of debt unpaid, of work undone, 
Where Mercy, Pardon, Hope is none, 
Laid up with God I 



28 LO RD, THO V ART MINE I 



LORD, THOU ART MINE I 

LORD, Thou art mine. 
Send help to me I 
Christ, I am Thine, 
Deliver me I 
Then shall 1 praise and sing, 
" My soul, bless thou thy God and King !" 

Mercies are Thine, 
Remember me I 
Sad sins are mine. 
Oh, pardon me ! 
Then shall I praise and sing, 
" My soul, bless thou thy God and King I'' 

Goodness is Thine, 

Lord, pity me 1 
Evil is mine, 
Forsake not me I 
1 hen shall 1 praise and sing, 
*' My soul, bless thou thy God and King I" 

All light is Thine, 

Oh, shine on me ! 
Darkness is mine, 
Enlighten me I 
Then shall I praise and sing, 
" My soul, bless thou thy God and King !" 



Wi: STOOD BESIDE THE EIVER. 29 



True life is Thine, 

Breathe it on me 1 
All death is mine, 
Oh, quicken me I 
Then shall I praise and sing, 
" My soul, bless thou thy God and King i" 



WE STOOD BESIDE THE RIVER. 
11 "TE stood beside the riyer, 
T y Whence all our souls must go, 
Bearing a loved one in our arms, 
Our hearts repeating the alarms 

That came across the river ; 
And saw the sun decline in mist. 
That rose until her brow it kissed, 
And left it cold as snow. 

Watching beside the river. 
With every ebb and flow, 
Fond hopes within our hearts would sprmg, 
Until another warning ring 

Came o'er the fearful river. 
We saw the flush, the brightness fade. 
The loving lips look grieved and sad, 

The white hands whiter grow. 

Watching by the river. 
With anguish none can toll • 
8* 



30 ^^ STOOD BESIDE THE RIVER. 



And trembling hearts and hands, we strove 
To save the darling of our love 
From going down the river 1 
Oh, powerless, but to weep and pray, 
And grieve for one who, far away, 
Had said his last farewell 1 

Weeping by the river, 

There came a blessed time, 
A solemn calm spread all around, 
Making it seem like holy ground, 

Beside the silent river 1 
The world receding from our^yes, 
Caught gleams of that dear land which li^ 

In Canaan's happy clime ! 

And there, beside the river. 

Came lessons strange and sweet, 
The perfect work of patience done. 
The warfare finished, victory won 

With weak hands by the river ' 
The childlike fear, the clinging love. 
The darkness brightened from above, 

The peace at Jesus' feet I 

Waiting by the river, 

Through mingled night and day, 
Sweet memories round our hearts we bring, 
Of Jesus' love and Heaven we sing. 



KNEELING AT THE TH RES HOLD. 31 



To soothe Tier hy the river ; 
And wept for one whose heart would break, 
Be pitiful for Jesus' sake. 

Father in heaven, we pray 1 

Standing by the river. 
We closed the weary eyes, 
In Jesus' arms we laid her down, 
A lovely jewel for His crown. 

He bore her through the river, 
And clothed her in a robe so white, 
Too beautiful for mortal sight. 

And took her to the skies 1 



KNEELING AT THE THRESHOLD. 

I'M kneeling at the thresliold, weary, faint, and 
sore ; 
Waiting for the dawning, for the opening of the 

door ; 
Waiting till the Master shall bid me rise and 



come, 



To the glory of His presence, to the gladness of 
His home ! 

A weary path I'\ie traveled, 'mid darkness, storm, 

and strife : 
Bearing many a burden, struggling for my life ; 



32 KNEELING AT THE THRESHOLD. 



But no-w tlie mom is breaking, my toil will soon 

be o'er, 
Fin kneeling at the threshold, my hand is on the 
-door! 

Melhinks I hear the voices of the blessed as they 
stand, 

Singing in the sunshine in the far-off sinless land : 

Oh, would that I were with them, amid their shin- 
ing throng, 

Mmgling in their worship, joining in their song 1 

The friends that started with me have entered 

long ago ; 
One by one they left me struggling with the foe ; 
Their pilgrimage was shorter, their triumph sm'er 

won. 
How lovingly they'll hail me, when all my toil is 

done 1 

With them the blessed angels that know no grief 

or sin, 
I see them by the portals, prepared to let me in. 
O Ijord, I wait Thy pleasiu^e ; Thy time and way 

are best ; 
But I'm wasted, worn, and weary ; O Father, bid 

]ne rest 1 



ODD TO ORDER ALL THY WAYS, 33 



LEAVE GOD TO ORDER ALL THY WAYS. 

LEAVE God to order all thy ways, 
And hope in Him, whate'er betide ; 
Thou'lt find Him in the evil days 

An all-sufiicient strength and guide. 
Who trusts in God's unchanging love, 
Builds on the rock that naught can move. 

What can these anxious cares avail — • 
These never-ceasing moans and sighs ? 

What can it help us to bewail 
Each painful moment as it flies ? 

Our cross and trials do but press 

The hearier for our bitterness. 

Only your restless heart keep still. 
And wait in cheerful hope, content 

To take whate'er His gracious will, 
His all-disceming love, hath sent ; 

Nor doubt our inmost wants are known 

To Him who chose us for His own ! 

He knows when joyful hours are best , 
He sends them as He sees it meet; 

When thou hast borne its fiery test, 
And now art freed from all deceit. 

He comes to thee all unaware. 

And makes thee own His loving care. 



34 GLOR Y IN TRlli ULA TION ALSO. 

Nor, in tlie lieat of pain and strife, 

Think God lintb cast tbce off imheard ; 

Nor that the man whose prosperous life 
Thou enviest, is of him preferred. 

Time passes, and much change doth bring, 

And sets a boimd to everything. 

All are alike before His face : 
'Tis easy to our God most high 

To make the rich man poor and base, 
To give the poor man wealth and joy. 

True wonders still of Ilim are wrought, 

Who setteth up and brings to naught 1 

Sing, pray, and swerve not from His ways, 
But do thine own part faithfully ; 

Trust His rich promises. of grace. 
So shall it be fulfilled in thee : 

God never yet forsook at need 

The soul that trusted Him indeed 1 



WE GLORY IN TRIBULATION ALSO. 

a TITITHIN this leaf, to every eye 

IT So little worth, doth hidden lie 
Most rare and subtile fragrancy. 
Wouldst thou its secret strength unbind ? 
Crush it, and thou shalt perfume find 
Sweet as Arabia's spicy wind. 



HTMK 35 

" In this dull stone so poor, and bare 
Of sbape or luster, patient care 
Will find for thee a jewel rare I 
But first must skillful hands essay, 
With file and flint, to clear away 
The film which hides its fire from day. 

" This leaf I This stone ! It is thy heart ; 
It must be crushed by pain and smart ; 
It must be cleansed by sorrow's art, 
Ere it will yield a fragrance sweet. 
Ere it will shine a jewel meet 
To lay before Thy dear Lord's feet I" 



H Y M N 

OHOLY Saviour, Friend unseen, 
The faint, the weak, on Thee may lean 
Help me, throughout Life's varying scene, 
By faith to cling to Thee I 

Blest with communion so Divine, 
Take what Thou wilt, shall I repine, 
When, as the branches to the vine, 
My soul may cling to Thee ? 

Far from her home, fatigued, opprest, 
Here she has found a place of rest, 
An exile still, yet not unblest, 
While she can cling to Thee 1 



30 HYMN. 

Without a murmur I dismiss 
My foimcr dreams of eartlily bliss ; 
My joy, my recompense be tliis, 
Eacli hour to cling to Thee I 

What tt 3ugh the world deceitful prore, 
And earthly Mends and joys remove, 
With patient, uncomplaining love, 
Still would J cling to Thee ! 

Oft when I seem to tread alone 
Some barren waste with thorns o'ergrowu, 
A voice of love, m gentlest tone, 
Whispers, " StiU cling to Me !" 

Though faith and hope av.hile be tried, 
I ask not, need not, aught beside ; 
How safe, how calm, how satisfied, 
The souls that cling to Thee ! 

They fear not Life's rough storms to brave. 
Since Thou art near, and strong to save ; 
Nor shudder e'en at Death's dark wave, 
Because they cling to Thee I 

Blest is my lot, whate'er befall ; 
What can disturb me, who appal ; 
While, as my strength, my rock, my all, 
Sa\iour, I cling to Thee I 



" COME UNTO ME I " 37 



"COME UNTO MEr 

A TIT thou weary ? Art thou languid ? 
Art thou sore distrest ? 
" Come to Me," saith One, " and coming, 
Be at rest !" 

Hath He marks to lead me to Him, 

If He be my Guide ? 
" In His feet and hands are wound-iirints, 
And His side." 

Is there diadem as monarch 

That His brow adorns ? 
" Yea, a crown in veiy surety, 
But of thorns 1" 

If I find Him, if I follow, 

What His guerdon here ? 
"Many a sorrow, many a labor, 
Many a tear." 

If 1 still hold closely to Him, 

What hath He at last ? 
" Sorrow vanquished, labor ended^ 
Jordan past I" 

If I ask Him to receive me, 

Will He say me nay ? 
** Not till earth and not tUl Heaven 
Pass awav I" 
4 



38 THE UNSEEN BATTLE- FIELD, 



Tending, following, keeping, struggling, 

Is He sure to bless ? 
" Angels, martyrs, propbets, pilgrims, 
Answer — Yes I" 



THE UNSEEN BATTLE FIELD. 

frnEKE is an unseen battle-field 
X In every buman breast, 
Wliere two opposing forces meet, 
And wbere tbcy seldom rest. 

Tbat field is bid from mortal sigbt, 

'Tis only seen by One, 
WLo kuows alone wbere victory lies 

Wben each day's figbt is done. 

One army cbisters strcmg and tierce, 

Tlicir cbief of demcm form ; 
His brow is like the tbunder-cloud, 

His voice tlie bursting storm. 

His captains. Pride, and Lust, and Hatc^ 
Whose troops watch night and day ; 

Swift to detect the weakest point, 
And thksting for the fray. 



THE UNSEEN BATTLEFIELD. 30 



Contending with tliis mighty force 

Is but a little band ; 
Tct there, Avith an unquailing front, 

Those warriors firmly stand. 

Their leader is of God-like form, 

Of countenance serene ; 
And slowing on His naked breast 

A single cross is seen. 

His captains. Faith, and Hope, and Lotc 

Point to that wondrous sign , 
And, gazing on it, all receive 

Strength from a source Divine. 

They feel it speaks a glorious truth, 

A truth as great as sm'e, 
That, to be victors, they must learn 

To love, confide, endure. 

That faith sublime, in wildest strife, 

Impaiis a holy calm ; 
For every deadly blow a shield, 

For every wound a balm. 

And when they win that battle-field, 

Past toil is quite forgot ; 
The plain where carnage once had reiguod, 

Become a hallowed spot. 



40 WITHOUT MONEY, ETC. 



Tlie spot where joy of flowers and peace 

Spring from the fertile socl, 
And breathe the perfume of their praise 

On eyery breeze of God ! 



WITHOUT MONEY AND WITHOUT PRICE 

AN INVITATION. 

COME to Jesus ! Are you lonely ? 
Solace sweet He will allbrd. 
Lean on Jesus — Jesus only ! 
Come, and find a loving Lord I 

Are your trials past the telling ? 

Are your sins as crimson dye ? 
Jesus sees your sad heart swelling, 

'Neath accusing Memory. 

He is waiting — will you leave Him 
Pleading at your heart in vain ? 

He is willing — oh, believe Him 1 
He may never call again. 

He hath never yet forsaken 
One who trusts alone in God ; 

Ho your life-long del^t hath taken, 
And hath paid it with His Blood. 



WITHOUT MONEY, ETC. 41 



From your sins He waits to cleanse you— 
Yr)u ! the slave by Satan bound ; 

Messages of love He sends you— 
Where can such a Friend be found ? 

Arc you sick ? His word can heal yoa 
Are you weary with the strife ? 

A.re you hungry ? He can fill you 
With the Heavenly Bread of Life ! 

Now ! it is the time to try it : 
Test Him by His written Word ; 

Come, for He will ne'er deny it ; 
Come to Christ, the Risen Lord I 

Do you fear His shai-p reproving 
That you did not go before ; 

That you left Him— so unloving- 
Waiting long time at your door ? 

He will only smile and greet you, 
Chasing shadows from your brow ; 

He will surely run to meet you, 
Saying, " Thou art welcome now I" 

By still waters He will lead you, 
In green pastures you shall rest ; 

And the pierced haads that freed you, 
Bear you on His tender breast. 
4* 



42 LORD, THOU AR2 AHNE! 



Come, oh, come, this day. and try it ! 

Jesus' words are proved and true ; 
Take His gift, you cannot buy it — 

He hath -waited long for you. 



"LOOKLVG UNTi^ JESUS." 

THOU, Lord, my path shalt choose, 
x\nd my Guide be I 
What shall I fear to lose 

While I have Thee ? 
This be my portion blest, 
On my Redeemer's breast, 
In peaceful trust to rest : 
He cares for me ! 

Shall, I then, choose my way ? 

Never, oh, no I 
I, a creature of a day, 

What can I know ? 
What dread perplexity. 
Then would encompass me ; 
Now I can look to Thee, 

Thou orderest so I 

This lightens every cross, 
Cheers every ill; 



*' LOOKING UNTO JESUS." 43 



Suffer I grief or loss, 

It is Thy will 1 
Wlio cau make no mistake, 
Olit^osetb tlie way I take ; 
He who can ne'er forsake, 

Holds my hand still I 

Sweet words of peace and Ic ve 

Christ whispers me I 
Bearing my soul above 

Life's troubled sea I 
This bo my portion blest, 
On my Redeemer's breast 
In peaceful trust to rest : 
He cares for me 1 

Christ died my love to win, 

Christ is my tower 1 
He will be with me in 

Each trying hour 1 
He makes the wounded whole, 
He will my heart console. 
He will uphold my soul 

By His own power 1 

To Thee, the only Wise, 

Whatever be,- 
I will lift up mine eyes 

Joyful in Thee 1 



44 THE SPIRITUAL TEMPLE. 



This be my portion blest, 
On my Redeemer's breast 
In peaceful trust to rest : 
He cares for me ! 



THE SPIRITUAL TEMPLE. 

A WD wliither came these goodly stones 
'Twas Israel's pride to raise ; 
The glory of the foi*mer house, 

The joy of ancieut days ; 
In purity and strength erect, 
In radiant splendor bright. 
Sparkling with golden beams of noon, 
Or silver smiles of night ? 

From coasts the stately cedar crowns 
. Each noble slab was brought, 
In Lebanon's deep quaiTies hewn, 

And on its mountains wrought ; 
There rung the hammer's heavy stroke 

Among the echoing rocks ; 
There chased the chisel's keen, sharp edge, 

The rude, unshapen blocks. 

Thence polished, jDerfected, complete, 
Each fitted to its place, 



THE SPIRITUAL TEMPLE. 45 



For lofty coping, massive walls. 

Or deep imbedded base — 
They bore them o'er the waves that rolled 

Their billowy swell betv/een 
The shores of Tyre's imperial pride, 

And Judah's hills of green. 

With gradual toil the work went on, 

Through days, and months, and years, 
Beneath the Summer's laughing sun, 

And Winter's frozen tears. 
And thus in majesty sublime 

And noiseless pomp it rose — 
Fit dwelling for the God of peace I 

A temple of repose. 

Brethren in Christ, to holier things 

The simple type apply ; 
Our God himself a temple builds. 

Eternal, and on high. 
Of ransomed souls ; their Zion there — 

That world of light and bliss — 
Their Lebanon, the place of toil, 

Of previous moulding — this 1 

From Nature's quarries, deep and dark, 

With gracious aim He hews 
The stones, the spiritual stones, 

It pleaseth Him to choose. 



46 THE SPIRITUAL TEMPLE. 



Hard, rugged, shfipeless at the first, 

Yet destined each to shine — 
Moulded beneath His i^atient hand — 

In piu-ity divine. 

Oh, glorious process ! see the proud 

Grow lowly, gentle, meek ; 
See floods of unaccustomed tears 

Gush down the hardened cheek : 
Perchance the hammer's heavy stroke 

O'erthrew some idol fond ; 
Perchance the chisel rent in twain 

Some precious, tender bond. 

Behold, he prays ! Whose lips were sealed 

In quiet scorn before, 
Sighs for the closet's holy calm, 

And hails the welcome door. 
Behold, he works for Jesus now, 

Whose days went idly past ; 
Oh, for more mouldings of the Hand 

That works a change so vast I 

Ye looked on one, a well-wrought stone, 

A saint of God matured. 
Wliat chiselings that heart had felt ! 

What chastening strokes endured ! 



ONLY OUR LOVE. 47 

But marked ye not tbat last soft touch 

What perfect grace it gave, 
Ere Jesus bore His servant borne 

Across tbe darksome wave ? 

Home to tbe place His grace designed 

Tbat cbosen soul to fill, 
In tbe brigbt temple of tbe saved, 

Upon His boly bill. 
Home to tbe noiselessness, tbe peace 

Of tbose sweet sbrines above, 
Wbose stones sball never be displaced — 

Set in redeeming love. 

Lord, cbisel, cbasten, polish us, 

Each blemish wash away ; 
Cleanse us with purifying blood, 

In spotless robes array ; 
And thus. Thine image on us stamped, 

Transport us to the shore 
Wbere not a stroke is ever felt, 

For none is needed more, 



ONLY OUR LO VE 

TO do Thy holy will ; 
To bear Thy cross ; 
To trust Thy mercy still, 
In pain or loss ; 



48 ONLY OUR LOVE. 



Poor gifts are these to bring, 

Dear Lord, to Thee, 
"Who liast done eyerything' 
For me I 

For Thy beloved Son 

And precious Word ; 
For all Thy goodness done 

On earth, O Lord 1 
For leave that I may live, — 

Blest boon of Thine, — 
"What recompense can give 

This heart of mine ? 

"What, lor Thy glorious earth, — 

Thy stars and flowers 'i 
What, for Thy seasons' birth, 

Kind Lord of ours ? 
"What, for the gentle ones 

"Whose lives I share ? 
For home, and the kindly tones 

Love vrhispcrs there ? 

Thou, "Who enthroned above 

Dost hear oiur call, 
01\ can our taithful love 

Pay Thee for all ? 



JN THE CLOSE T. 49 



Poor recompense to bring, 

Dear Lord, to Thee, 
Who hast done everything 
For me ! 



7JV THE CLOSET. 

THE air is stirred with holy life, 
All earthly thoughts take wing; 
Hushed be the tumult of my heart, 
I hear the angels sing. 

Yes 1 o'er my bowed and weeping head, 

I feel their waving wings, 
While mercy-drops are falling round, 

Drops from the heavenly springs. 

And softly from the holy haze 
Falls forth the word of cheer : 

" Speak, troubled soul, what is thy need 1 
Jesus Himself is here 1" 

" My Lord and God I" my soul replies, 

" I hear Thy gracious call ; 
No need have I, since Thou art here. 

Thou art my all in all I 
5 



60 ^^^D THEY SHALL SEE HIS FA CE. 



" Oil, let me ever here repose 
Upon Thy soothing breast ; 

For now I know how blissfully 
Thy wejiry ones find rest 1" 



IX SUFFERIXQ 

IT'ATIIER, Thy will, not mine, be done ; 
. So prayed on earth Thy sullering Son ; 
So in His name I pray. 
The spii-it laints, the flesh is weak, 
Thy help in agony I seek — 
Oh, take this cup away ! 

If such be not Thy sovereign will, 
Thy wisej* purpose then fulfill ; 

My wishes I resign ; 
Into Thy hands my soul commend. 
On Thee for lifo or death depend ; 

Thy will bo done, not mine. 



AXD THEY SHALL SEE HIS FACE. 

TlfllAT must it be to dwell above, 
! I At God's right hand, where Jesus rcigns. 
Since the sweet earnest of His love 
Overwhelms us on these dreary plains 1 



IN THE OTIIKR WORLD. 5] 

No heart can (liink, no tongue explain, 
What blisa it is with Christ to reign. 

When sin no more obstructs our siglit, 
When s«)n'()W i):vinH our heart no more, 

How shall we view the I'rince of Light, 
And all His works of graco explore 1 

What heights and depths of lovo Divine 

Will there through endless ages shine 1 

Well, ITe has fixed the happy day 

When the last tears will wet our eyes, 

And Qod shall wipe all tears away, 
And (HI us with Divine surprise 

To hear His voice, and see His face, 

And ieel His indnite embrace ! 

This is the Heaven I long to know ; 

For this, with patience, I would wait. 
Till, weaned Irom (>arlh and all below, 

I mount to my ("elestial seat, 
And wave my palm, ant I wear my crown. 
And, with the elders, cast them down. 



JN 77/ a; 077/ h'K WORLD. 

IT lies around us like a cloud— 
A world we do not see ; 
Yet the sweet closing of an eye 
May bring us there to be. 



52 Jy THE OTHER WORLD. 



Its gentle breezes fan our clieek ; 

Amid our worldly cares 
Its gentle voices whisper love, 

And mingle with our prayers. 

Sweet hearts around us throb and beat. 
Sweet helping hands are stirred, 

/^nd palpitates the veil between 
With breathings almost heard. 

The silence— awful, sweet, and calm — 
They have no power to break ; 

For mortal words are not for them 
To utter or partake. 

So thin, so soft, so sweet they glide, 
So near to press they seem — 

They seem to lull us to our rest, 
And melt into our dream. 

And in the hush of rest they bring 

'Tis easy now to see 
How lovely, and how sweet a psiss, 

The hour of death may be. 

To close the eye, and close the ear, 
"Wrapped in a trance ot" bliss, 

And gently dream in loving arms 
To swoon to that— from this. 



CHRIST RISEN. 53 



Scarce knowing if we wake or sleep, 
Scarce asking where we are, 

To feel all evil sink away, 
All sorrow and all care. 

Sweet riouls around us I watch us still, 

Press nearer to our side, 
Into our thoughts, into our prayers, 

With gentle helpings glide. 

Let death between us be as naught, 
A dried and vanished stream : 

Your joy be the reality. 

Our suffering life the dream. 



CHRIST RISEN. 

n^IIE foe behind, the deep before, 
X Our hosts have dared and past the sea ; 
And Pharoah's waniors strew the shore. 
And Israel's ransomed tribes are free. 
Lift up, lift up your voices now 1 
The whole wide- world rejoices now ! 
The Lord hath truimphed gloriously I 
The Lord shall reign victoriously 1 
Happy moiTow, 
Turning sorrow 

Into peace and mirth 1 



64 CrmiST KISKN. 



Bondage endinj,'', 
Love descending 

O'er the earth I 
Seals assuring, 
Guard's securing ; 

Watch his earthly prison, 
Seals are shattered, 
Guards are scattered, 

Clii'ist hath risen 1 



N(^ longer must the mourners weep, 

Nor call departed Christians dead ; 
For death is hallowed into sleep 
And every grave becomes a bed. 
Now once more 
Eden's door 
Open stands to mortal eyes ; 
For Christ hath risen, and men shall rise 
Now at last, 
Old things past, 
ITopc, and joy, and peace begin : 
For Christ hath won, and men shall \nu.. 

It is not exile, rest on high : 

It is not sadness, peace from strife : 

To fall asleep is not to die : 

To d>Yell with Christ is better life. 



IMMANUMJS LAND. 65 



Where our banner leads us, 

Wc may safely go : 
Where our Chief precedes us, 

We may face the foe. 
His right arm is o'er us, 

He will guide us through ; 
Christ hath gone before us ; 

Christians I follow you I 



QLORY DWELLETH IN IMMANUEV8 
LAND* 

I. 
fyilE sands of time are sinking, 
X The dawn of Heaven breaks, 
The Summer morn I've sighed for, 
The fair sweet morn, awakes ! 

* Samuol Euthcrford, a man of great Icftrning and talents, waa 
first a Professor in the University of Edinburgh, then minister 
of the parish of Anworth, and Bubsequently Professor of Tlioo- 
logy at at. Andrew's, in Seolland. At one time lio was iinpris- 
01^0(1 for the name of Jesus. His death-bed was as romarkablo 
as his life had been. Some of liis dying expressions are pre- 
served by Mr. Fleming in his Fuljilling of Scripture, who thus 
concludes his narrative; " And thus, full of the ypirit, yea. as it 
weie, ovorcouio with sensible enjoyincur, ho breathed o\.t hie 
Boiil, his last words being; 'Glory, glory dwelleth in Imman- 
Bel's I'lndl"' 



56 IMMANUEUS LAND. 



Park, dark hatli been the midniglit, 
Bui dayspring is at hand, 

And glory — glory dwelleth 
In Immauiiel's laud. 

II, 

Oh, well it is for ever ! 

Oh, -well for evermore 1 
My nest hung in no forest 

Of all this death-doomed shore. 
Yea, let the vain world vanish, 

As from the ship the strand, 
While glory — gloiy dwelleth 

In ImmanueFs land. 

III. 
There the Red Rose of Sharon 

Unfolds its heartsome Moom 
And fills the air of Heaven 

With ravishing perfume : 
Oh, to behold it blossom, 

While by its fragrance fanned 
While glory — glory dwelleth 

In Immanuel's land. 

The King there, in His beauty, 
Without a vail, is seen : 



IMMANUEUS LAND. fi^ 

It were a well-spent journey, 
Though seven deaths lay between. 

The Lamb, with His tair army, 
Doth on Mount Zion stand, 

And gloiy — glory dwell eth 
In Immanuel's land. 



Oh, Christ He is the Fountain, 

The deep sweet well of love I 
The streams on earth I've tasted, 

More deep I'll drink above : 
There, to an ocean fulness, 

His mercy doth expand, 
And glory — glory dwelleth 

In Immanuel's land. 



vr. 

E'en Anworth was not heaven — 

E'en preaching was not Christ ; 
And in my sea-l:)eat prison 

My Lord and I held tryst : 
And aye my murkiest storm-cloud 

"Was by a rainbow spanned, 
Caught from the glory dwelling 

In Immanuel's land. 



58 IMMANUEUS LAND. 

VII. 

But tLat He built a lieaven 

Of His surpassing love, 
A little New Jerusalem, 

Like to tlie one above — 
" Lord, take me o'er the water," 

Had been my loud demand ; 
" Take me to love's own country, 

Unto Immanuel's land." 

VIII. 

But flowers need night's cool darknosa, 

The moonlight and the dew ; 
So Christ, from one who loved it, 

His shining oft withdrew : 
And then, for cause of absence. 

My troubled soul I scanned — 
But glory, shadeless, shineth 

In Immanuel's land. 

IX. 

The little birds at Anworth 

I used to count them blest — 
Now, beside happier altars 

I go to build my nest : 
O'er these there broods no silence, 

No graves around them stand , 
For gloiy, deathless, dwelletlj 

In Immanuel's land. 



IM MANUEL'S LAND. 69 



X. 

Fair Anwortli by the Solway, 

To me thou still art dear 1 
E'en from the verge of Heaven 

I drop for thee a tear. 
Oh, if one soul from Auworth 

Meet me at God's right hand, 
My heaven will be two heavens 

In Immanuel's land. 

XI. 

I've wrestled on toward Heaven, 

'Gainst storm, and wind, and tide 
Now, like a weary traveler, 

Tliat leaneth on his guide. 
Amid the shades of evening, 

Wliile sinks life's lingering sand, 
I hail the glory dawning 

From Immanuers land. 

XII. 

Deep waters crossed life's pathway, 

The hedge of thorns was sharp : 
Now, these lie all behind me— 

Oh, for a well-tuned hai-p I 
Oh, to join Hallelujah 

With yon triumphant baud, 
Who sing, where glory dwelleth, 

In ImmanueVs land 



eo IMMANUErS LAND. 



xni. 

With mercy and Tvitli judgment 

My web of time He wove, 
And aye the dews of sorrow 

Were Uistered ^ith His love : 
I'll bless the Hand that guided, 

I'll bless the Heart that planned^ 
When throned where glory dwelleth, 

In Immanuel's land. 

xrv. 
Soon shall the cup of glory 

Wash down earth's bitterest woes, 
Soon shall the desert's brier 

Break into Eden's rose ; 
The curse shall change to blessing — 

The name on earth that's banned, 

; graven on the whit( 

In Immanuel's land. 



Be graven on the white stone 



XY. 

Oh, I am my Beloved's, 

And my Beloved is mine 1 
He brings a poor vile sinner 

Into His " house of wine I" 
I stand upon His merit, 

I know no safer stand. 
Not e'en where glory dwelleth 

In Immanuel's land. 



IMMANUELS LANV. 61 

XTI. 

I sLall sleep sound in Jesus, 

Filled with His likeness ri3C, 
To live and to adore Him, 

To see Him with these eyes : 
^Tween me and resurrection 

But Paradise doth stand ; 
Then — then for glory dwelling. 

In Immanuel's land. 

xvir. 

The bride eyes not her garments, 

But her dear bndegroom's face ; 
I will not gaze at glory, 

But on my King of Grace — 
Not at the crown He giveth, 

But on His pierced hand : 
The Lamb is all the glory 

Of Immanuel's land. 

XVIII. 

I have borne scorn and hatred, 

I have borne wrong and shame 
Earth's proud ones have reproached mo. 

For Christ's thrice- blossod name : 
Where God's seal set the fairest, 

They've stamped their foulest brand ; 
But judgment shines like noonday 

In Immanuel's land, 
6 



^2 S JJREL Y I COME Q UlCKL T, 



SURELY I COME QUICKLY. 

O'ER tlie distant mountains breaking, 
Comes the reddening dawn of day ; 
Rise, my soul, from sleep awaking, 
Rise and sing, and watch, and pray, — 

'Tis thy Saviour, 
On His bright returning way. 

O Thou long-expected, weaiy 
Waits my anxious soul for Thee I 

Life is dark, and earth is dreary, 
Where Thy light I do not see. 

O my Sayiour, 
When wilt Thou return to me I 

Long, too long, in sin and sadness, 
Far away from Thee I pine ; 

When, oh, when shall I the gladness 
Of Thy Sj^irit feel in mine 1 

O my Sayiour, 
When shall I be wholly Thine I 

Heaven is my soul's salvation ; 

Spent the night the day at hand ; 
Keep me in my lowly station. 

Watching for Thee, till I stand, 
O my Saviour, 

In Thy bright and promised land I 



" RE G OKTH BEFORE THEM " 63 



Witli my lamp well trimmed and burning, 
Swift to bear, and slow to roam, 

"Watching for Thy glad returning, 
To restore me to my home, 
Come, my Saviour — 
O my Saviour, quickly come I 



"HE 00 Em BEFORE THEM." 

THE winds blow fierce across the barren wild ; 
The storm-clouds gather darkly on our way ; 
'Tis cold ! But, oh, that loving face and mild. 

Which goes before 1 there first the shadows stay ; 
And tempests reach Him first, our Shepherd there : 
"What He endures shall we complain to bear ? 

The night comes on — 'tis dai'k ! the stars are dim, 
We cannot see the way ! But, oh, that form 

WTiich goes before ! the night Q,on\Q,^Jird to Him * 
And darkness first is His, — as was the storm 1 

Shall we shrink back, or tremble to go on, 

Where He, our Shepherd, first for us hath gone ? 

The way is rough, and wearying steeps arise ; 

And thorns are there to wound our aching feet. 
But, oh, those sacred footsteps, firm and wise, 

WTiich go before ! they first the roughness meet, 



04 " IIE GOETII BEFORE THEM:' 

And briers reach tliem first 1 Oh, shall we dread 
To bear His cross —to walk wliere He hath led ? 

The stream is reached ; — the river dark and cold ; 

The waves are high ! But, oh, that mighty One, 
Who goes before I— the billows o'er llhn rolled ; 

He crossed the waters first, and shall we shun 
The final anguish which our Shepherd bore ? 
His hcnd shall guide us to the other shore I . 

He goes 'before ! And so we may not look 
Backward at all, but onward evermore ; 

Keeping in sight the blessed path He took, 
Patient to bear each cross He meekly bore ; 

Trusting His wisdom in the darkest hour ; 

O'ercoming every trial through His power I 

He goes before ! a shield against the storm : 
A shadow in the noon-day, — lights at night ; 

In danger's hour, there is the Shepherd's form 
But just beyond ; though fears may dim our 
sight. 

Oh, earthly flock, fear not forevermore ! 

Where'er we walk, cm Shepherd " goes before." 



JUS NAME. 65 



HIS NAME 

OAS^ONDERFUL ! round wliosc birtli-boiii 
Prophetic song, niiraculous power, 
Cluster and hum, like star and flower. 

Those marvelous rays that at Thy will, 
From the closed Heaven which is so chill, 
So passionless, stream'd round Thee stilly 

Are but as broken gleams that start, 
O Light of lights, from Thy deep heart, 
Thyself, Thyself, the Wonder art 1 

O Counselor I four thousand years, 
One question, tremulous with tears. 
One awful question, vexed our peers. 

They ask'd the vault, but no one spoke ; 
They ask'd the depth, no answer woke ; 
They ask'd their hearts, that only broke. 

They look'd, and sometimes on the height 
Far off they saw a haze of white. 
That was a storm, but look'd like light. 

The secret of the years is read, 
The' enigma of the quick and dead 
By the child-voice interpreted. 
6* 



66 J7/S NAJIJC. 



O everlasting Father, God 1 

Sim after sun "went down, and trod 

Race after race the green earth's sod, 

Till generations seemed to be 
But dead waves of an endless sea, 
But dead leaves from a deathless tree. 

But Thou hast eome, and now we know 
Each wave hath an eternal flow, 
Each leaf a lifetime after snow. 

O Prince of Peace ! crown'd, yet discrown 'd, 
They say no war nor battle's sound 
Wiis heard the tired world ai'ound ; 

They say the houi- that Thou didst come. 
The trumpet's voice was stricken dumb, 
And no one beat the battle-drum. 

Yea, still as life to them that mark. 
Its poor adventure seems a bark, 
Whose track is pale, whose sail is dark , 

Thou who art Wonderful dost fling 
One ray, till like a sea-bird's wing 
The canvas is a snowy thing, — 



HIS NAME. 07 

Till the dark boat is tum'd to gold, 
The sunlit-silvcr'd ocean rolled 
With anthems that arc new and old, 

With noble path of luminous ray 
From the boat slanting all the way. 
To the island of undying day. 

And still as clouding questions swarni 
Around our hearts, and dimly form 
Their j^roblems of the mist and storm ; 

And still as ages fleet, but fraught 
With syllables, wherel)y is wrought 
The fullness of the Eternal thought ; 

And when not yet in God's sunshine, 
The smoke drifts from the embattled line 
Of warning hearts that would be Thine I 

We bid our doubts and passions cease, 
Our restless fears be still'd with these — 
Counselor, Father, Prince of Peace I 



68 THE E'EN BEINGS A' llAME, 



THE E'EN BRINGS A' HAME. 

UPOK the hills the wind is sharp and cold, 
The sweet young grasses wither on the wold, 
And we, O Lord ! have wander'd from Thy fold ; 
But evening brings us home. 

Among the mists we stumbled, and the rocks 
Where the brown lichen whitens, and the fox 
Watches the straggler from the scattered flocks ; 
But evening brings us home. 

Tlie shaqD thorns prick us, and our tender feet 
Are cut and bleeding, and the lambs repeat 
Their i)itiful complaints — oh, rest is sweet 
When evening brings us home. 

We have been wounded by the hunters' darts ; 
Our eyes are vei*y heavy, and our hearts 
Search for Thy coming — when the light departs 
At evening, bring us home. 

Tlie darkness gatners. Through the gloom no stai 
Rises to guide us. AYe have wandei'd far — 
Without Thy lamp we know not where we are ; 
At evening bring us home. 



KNOCKING, EVER KNOCKING. 69 



The clouds are round us, and tlie snow- drifts 

thicken : 
Tliou, dear Shepherd 1 leave us not to sicken 
In the waste night ; our tardy footsteps Cjuicken, 



At evening bring us home. 



KNOCKING, EVER KNOCKING. 

^Suggested by Hunfs Picture of the "Light of the ■Wosld.'^ 

" Behold., I stand at the door and knock /" 

T^ NOCKING, knocking, ever knocking I 

IV Who is there ? 

'Tis a pilgrim, strange and kingly, 

Never such was seen before ; — 
Ah, sweet soul, for such a wonder 

Undo the door. 

No I that door is hard to open ; 
Hinges rusty, latch is broken ; 

Bid Him go. 
Wherefore, with that knocking dreary 
Scare the sleep from one so weary ? 

Say Him — no. 

Knocking, knocking, ever knocking ? 

What I Still there? 
Oh, sweet soul, but once behold Him, 
With the glory- crowned hair ; 



70 KNOCKING, EVER KNOCKING. 



And those eyes, so strange and tender, 

Waiting there ; 
Open I Open ! Once behold Uim — 

Him, so fair 1 

Ah, that door ! AVhy wilt Thou vex mo, 

Coming ever to perplex me ? 

For the kej^ is stittly rusty, 

And the bolt is clogg'd and dusty ; 

Many-finger'd ivy vine 

Seals it fast with twist and twine ; 

Weeds of years, and yeai-s before, 

Choke the passage of that door. 

Knocking, knocking ! What ? Still knocking ? 

He still there ? 
Wliat's the hour ? The night is waning — 
In my heart a drear complaining, 

And a chilly, sad unrest ! 
Ah, this knocking I It disturbs mc I 
Scai'es my sleep with dreams unblest ! 

Give me rest : 

Rest — ah, rest I 

Rest, dear soul. He longs to give thee ; 
Thou hast only dream'd of pleasure — 
Dream'd of gifts and golden treasure — 
DreiuuVl of jewels in thy keeping, 



JACOB'S LADDER. *j\ 



Waked to weariness of weeping ; — 
Open to thy soul's one Lover, 
And thy ni<ji,-ht of dreams is over, — 
The true gifts He brings have seeming 
More than all thy faded dreaming ! 

Did she open ? Doth she ? Will she ? 
So, as wondering we behold, 
Grows the picture to a sign, 
Press'd upon your soul and mine ; 
For in every breast that liveth 
Is that strange mysterious door ; — 
The forsaken and betangled, 
Ivy-gnarled and weed-be jangled, 
Dusty, rusty, and forgotten ; — 
riiere the piercC'd hantl still knockctli, 
And with ever patient watching. 
With the sad eyes true and tender, 
With the glory-crowned hair, — 
Still a God is waiting there. 



J A C OB' S LA D D ER. 

AH' 1 many a time we look on starlit-nights 
Up to the sky, as Jacob did of old ; 
Look longing up to the eteraal lights, 
To spell their lives of gold. 



!?2 JACOB'S LADDER. 



But nov(M- moro, as to the Hebrew boy, 

Each on liis way the Angels walk abroad, 
(Villi never more we bear, with awful joy, 
The' audible voice of God. 

Yet, to pure eyes the ladder still is set, 

And Auiifel visitants still come and itjo ; 
ISIany bright messengers are moving yet 
From tbo dark world below. 

Thoughts, that are surely Faith's outspreading 
wings — 
Pniyers of the Church, aye keeping time and 
tryst — 
Heart-wishes, making bee-like murmurings, 
Their llower the Euchimst. 

Si)irits elect, through sutTering render'd meet 

For those high mansions — from the uui"sery-door 
Hright babes that seem to clin\b with clay-cold 
Icet, 
Up to the Golden Floor — 

Those are the messengers, Ibrever wending 

From earth to Heaven, that faith alone may 
sean ; 
These are the Angels of our God, ascending 
Upon tile Sou of Man 1 



MARA If. 73 



Af A R A II . 

(^OV) Bonds VIS l)ittcr, iluit the «wect, 
VJ IJj absence known, nuiy sweeter prove; 
Aa diirk ibr li{;lit, as cold lor heat, 
Bi-ings greater love. 

God rtcnds us bitter, as to show 

He can both sweet and bitter send ; 

That i)otij lh(! niighl and love we know 

Of our great Friend. 

He sends us bitter, lest too gay 

We wreathe around our heads the rose. 
And count our right, what Heaven ea;h da} 
As alms bestows. 

God sends us bitter, lest we fail 

That bitterest Griel' arij^ht to i)rize 
Whi'h did lor all the world avail 
In His own (!yes. 

God sends us bitter, vill our sins 
Embittering; yet so kindly sends, 
The path that liitteraess begins 
In swe^'tness ends. 
7 



74 MAR AH. 

He SLMids us bitter, tliat Heaven's sweet, 
Eurtirs bitter o'er, may sweeter taste; 
As Canaan's ground to Israel's feet, 
For that great waste. 

Our passions murmur and rebel, 

But Faith cries out unto the Lord, 
And prayer by patience worketh well 
Its own reward. 



For, if our heart the lesson draws 

Aright, by bitter chastening taught, 
To keep His statutes and His laws 
Even as we ought. 

He opcneth our eyes to see 

(Eyes that our pride of heart had sea'ld) 
The sweetness of Life's heavenly Tree, 
And grief is heal'd. 

And lo I before us in the way 

We view the fountains and the palms, 
And drink, and pitch oir tents, and stay 
Singing swoet psahws. 



PER PA GEM AD L UCEM. 75 

PKIi PACh'M AD LUC KM. 

I DO not ask, O Lord ! that life may be 
A pleasant road ; 
I do uot ask that Thou wouldst take li'om me 

Aught of its load ; 
1 do not ask that llowcrs should always spring 

Beneath my feet ; 
I know too well tlic poison and the sting 

Of things too sweet. 
For one thing only, Lord, dear Lord ! I plead : 

Lead me aright— 
Though slrcnoth should falter, and though heart 
should bloed — 

Through Peace to Light. 

I do not ask, O Lord 1 that Thou shouidst shed 

Full radiance here ; 
Give but a ray of Peace, that I may tread 

Without a fear. 
I do not ask my cross to understand, 

My way to sec, — 
Better in darkness just to feel Thy Hand, 

And follow Thee. 
Joy is like restless day, but Peace Divine 

Like quiet )iight. 
Lead me, O Lord 1 till perfect Day shall shine, 

Through Peace to Light. 



76 '* EVEN AS THOU WILTr 



■rEvujsr AS thou wilt:* 

U TT-^^^E mercy on me, Lord I" 

Jll She followed Him, and cried ; and when 
there caine 
No answer, folloVd, crying still tlie same, — 
" Have mercy on mo, Lord !" 

" Send her away," they said — 
They wiio should be dispensers of His grace, 
Would have Him turn from her who sought His 
face : 

" Send her away," they said. 

lie spoke their thought aloud — 
" It is not meet to take the childi'en's bread 
And cast it to the dogs " — as if He said, 
"How poor ye are and proud." 

" Yea, Lord ! and yet the dogs 
Eat of the crumbs that from the children fall," 
She pleaded — " and there is enough for aU — 

For chikb'en and for doffs." 

O 

And He to her replied, 
" Even as Thou wilt, so be it unto Thee. 
Thy heart the mea:sure of the grace shall be 

From my rich store supplied." 



THE TWO SUNSETS. 77 



SLe had the thing she would — 
Lord ! if I dip my cup into the soa, 
[t rises full. Such cu{) cuch soul may be, 

Such Ocean is Thy good I 



TJl E TWO SUNSETS. 

"VTO bird-song floated do'A^l the hill, 
W The tangled bank below was still ; 

No rustle from the birchen stem, 
No rijiple from the water's hem. 

The dusk of twilight round us grew, 
"We felt the falling of the dew ; 

For, from us, ere the day was done, 
The wooded hills shut out Uie sun. 

But on the river's farther side, 
We saw the hill -tops gloriiicd : 

A tender glow, exceeding fair, 
A dream of day without its glare. 

I 
With us the damp, the chill, the gloom ; 

With them the sunset's rosy bloom ; 

7* 



78 i^RE TWO s[r.YSErs. 

■\\rhile dark, through willowy vistas seen, 
The river rolled in shade between. 

From out the darkness, where we trod, 
We gazed upon those hills of God, 

Whose light seemed not of moon or sun ; 
We spake not, but our thought was one. 

We paused, as if from that bright shore 
Beckoned our dear ones gone before ; 

And stilled our beating hearts to hear 
The voices lost to mortal ear I 

Sudden our pathway turned from night ; 
The hills swung open to the light ; 

Thro' their green gates the sunshine showed \ 
A long, slant splendor downward flowed. 

Down glade, and glen, and bank it rolled : 
It bridged the shaded stream with gold, 

And, borne on piers oi mist, allied 
The shadowy with the sunlit side ! 

'' So," prayed we, " when our feet "Iraw neai' 
The river, dark with mortal fear, 



WBF 2J0ST TIIOU WAIT? 79 

And the niglit cometh, cliill with clew, 
O Father ! let Thy light break through 1 

So let the hills of doubt divide, 

So bridge with faith the sunless tide ! 

So let the eyes that fail on earth 
On Thy eternal hills look forth ; 

And, in Thy beckoning angels, know 
The dear ones whom we loved below !" 



WHY DOST TIIOU WAIT? 

POOR trembling lamb 1 Ah, who outside the 
fold 
Has bid thee stand, all weary as thou art ? 
Dangers around thee, and the bitter cold 

Creeping and growing to thine inmost heart ; 
Who bids thee wait till some mysterious feeling, 
Thou know'st not what— perchance may never 
know — 
Shall find thee where in darkness thou art kneel- 

And fill thee with a rich and wondrous glow 
Of love and faith ; and change to warmth and 
light 
The chill and darkness of thy spirit's night ? 



80 ^'^^y I>OST THOU WAITr 



For miracles like this, who buls thee wait ? 

Behold. " The Spirit and the Bride say, Come I** 
The tender Shepherd opens wide the gate, 

And in His love would gently lead thee home. 
Why shoukbt thou wait ? Long centuries ago, 

Thou timid lamb, the Shepherd paid for thee. 
Thou aH His own. Wouldst thou His beauty 
know, 

Nor trust the love which yet thou canst not see % 
Thou hast not learned this lesson to receive ; 

More bless'd are they who see not, yet believe. 

Still dost thou wait for feeling ? Dost thou say, 

" Fain would I love and trust, but hope is dead ; 
I have no faith, and without faith, who may 

llest in the blessing whicn is only slied 
Upon the faithful ? I mu-st stand and wait." 

Not so. The Shepherd does not ask of thee 
Faith in thy faith, but only faith in Him. 

And this He meant in saying, " Come to Me I" 
In light or darkness seek to do Plis will, 

And leave the work of faith to Jesus still. 



THE EVERLASTING MEMORIAL. 81 



u 



THE EVERLASriNCr MEMORIAL 

P Jind away, like the dew of tbe morning, 
Tliat soars from the earth to its home in the 



sun, — 
Bo let me steal away, gently andjovingly, 
Only remembered by what I have done. 

My name, and my place, and my tomb all for- 
gotten, 

The brief race of time well and patiently run, 
So let me pass awaj, peacefully, silently, 

Only remembered by what I have done. 

Gladly away from this toil would I hasten, 
Up to the crown that for me has been won ; 

Un thought of by man in rewards or in praises, — 
Only remembered by what I have done. 

Up and away, like the odors of sunset, 
That sweeten the twilight as darkness comce 
on ; 

So be my life, — a thing felt but not noticed, 
And I but remembered by what I have done. 

Yes, like the fragrance that wanders in freshness, 
When the flowers that it came from are closed 
up and gone ; 



82 THE £VERLASTmO MEMORIAL. 



So would I bo to this world's weary dwellers, 
Only remembered by wliat I have done. 

Needs there the praise of the love-written record. 
The name and the epitaph graved on the stone ?• 
The things we have lived lor, — let them be our 
story, 
We ourselves but remembered by what we have 
done. 

I need not be missed, if my life has been bearing 
(As its Summer and Autumn moved silently on) 

Tlie bloom, and the Iruit, and the seed ot'iis season ; 
I shall still be remembered by what I have done. 

I need not be missed, if another succeed mc, 
To reap down those fields which in Spring I 
have sown ; 
lie who plowed and who sowed is not missed by 
the reaper, 
IIo is only remembered by what he has done. 

Not myself, but the truth that in life I have 
spoken. 
Not myself, but the seed that in life I havo 
sown. 
Shall pass on to ages, — all about me forgotten, 
Save the truth I havo spoken, the things I have 
done. 



THE TWO VILLAGES. 93 

So let ray living be, so bo iriy dyirii]^ ; 

So let my name lie, unblazoned, unknown ; 
IJnpmiscd and ininiisaed, I shall ntill ])e remem- 
bered ; 

Yes,— but rememl)ered by wliat I have done. 



TJ/ M T WO V 1 LLA O K S, 

OVER the river on the hill 
Lieth a village white and still ; 
All around it the forest- trees 
Shiver and wliisper in the breeze ; 
Over it sailini;' shadows go 
Of soaring hawk and screaming crow, 
And mountain grasses, low and sweet, 
Grow in the middle of every street. 

Over the river under the hill 
Another village lieth still ; 
There I see in tlie cloudy night 
Twinkling stars of household light, 
Fires that, gleam from the smithy's door. 
Mists that curl on the river's shore; 
And in tlie roads no grasses grow, 
For the wheels that hasten to and fro. 

In that village on the hill 
Never is sound of smithy or mill, 



84 IfJ^ WAYSIDE WATCRm. 



The bouses are thatched with grass and flower?, 

Never a clock to "tell the hours ; 

The marble doors are always shut ; 

You may not enter at hall or hut • 

KW the village lie asleep ; 

Never a grain to sow or reap ; 

Never in dreams to moan or sigh, 

Sileutj and idle, and low they lie. 

In that village under the hill, 
When the night is starry and still. 
Many a weary soul in prayer 
Looks to the other village there, 
And weeping and sighing, longs to qo 
Up to that home, from this below ; 
Longs to sleep by the forest wild, 
Whither have vanished wife and child, 
And heareth, i)rayiug, this answer fall — 
^ Patience I that village shall hold ye all P 



TFIE WAYSIDE WATCHER. 

U A LL the day you sit here idle, 
ii. And the Master at the door I 

The fields are white to harvest. 
And our labor almost o'er. 

You are di'eaming. you are dreaming I 
Time is gliding fast away ; 



THE WAfSIDE WATCHER. 35 



See ! the eventide is waning, 
Soon slitill break eternal day." 

" Brotlier, my hand is feeble, 

My strcDgtli is well-nigh spent : 
I saw you all at noon-day. 

And I marked the way ye went 
I cried, ' God's blessing on them, 

What a favored bund they be I 
But I'll watch upon the highway, 

God may find a work for me. 



» »» 



" Yet you tarry, yet you tarry," 

Said the laborer again, 
" You may idle on the highway, 

And wait all day in vain. 
'Tis easy labor ' waiting ;' 

On the dusty road we tread 
To toil within the vineyard : 

Go out and work instead." 

The watcher smiled and answered, 

" My brother, is it so ? 
Who waitcth on the Master, 

The Master's will shall know. 
He hath taught me one sweet lesson, 

I have learnt it not too late, 
There is service for the feeblest 

That only stand and wait." 



80 THE WAYSIDE WATCHER, 

I sat mc by the hcdujc-rcnv, 

No burdon could I beiir, 
But I oftou thoui^hl, how bloss6d. 

lu *he Hold to have a sluiro 1 
The lovini? Master whispered, 

Through the often lonel}' day, 
" Still wait on ]\Ic, thou weak one^ 

The lame shall take the prey." 

Not long I tarried watching : 

A wayfarer drew nii»]i, 
He was weary, sad, and hungry, 

For the glownng sun was high. 
His foot lagged faint and I'ainter, 

His eyes were downward cast; 
That laborer by my lattiee 

At early morn h;ul passed. 

I drew him 'nealh the trellis 

Of the vine's inviting shade, 
Down by the soft green pasture 

Our Shepherd's love hath made. 
I fetched him from the streamlet 

Fresh water for his feet, 
I spread the bread before him, 

And bade bim rest and eat. 

Ho bathed in the bright fountain, 
Aud then refreshed and strong, 



THE WAYSIDE WATCHER. 97 

He jouraeyed on rejoicing : 

You could hear his happy song, 

Where, on the <hiHty wayside, 
Tiio traveler had been, 

Stood One, in heavenly beauty, 
With more than regal mien. 

" I thank thee," said the Stranger, 

" For all thy cares allbrd, 
For rest, and I'ood, and welcome, 

Beside thy simple board." 
" Nay, Lord," I said, *' what succor 

Have I bestowed on Thee ?" 
" Thy service to my servant 

ITatli all been done to Me." 

Oh, it was well worth watcliing, 

A Summer's day alone ; 
Well worth the weary waiting, 

To hear His sweet " Well (lon(> V 
Is it too small a matter. 

That in man's ibolish pride 
He scorns one heart to gladdeu 

For which the Saviour died ? 

Oh, over blesscUl Master 1 

'JMie harvest-lieid is lair, 
And Thou hast better servants. 

Than Thy weak one, everywhere. 



88 THE WAYSIDE WATCHER, 



Thou never hast forsaken 
One waiting by the way ; 

Still meet me with a promise, 
That the lame sliall take the piey. 

From the tangled thicket near me 

I heard a mournful cry ; 
A little child had wandered 

From the sunny path hard by : 
His hands were torn with briers, 

Ilis hot tears fell like rain ; 
And he wept, lest he should never 

See his father's face again. 

Close to my heart I drew him, 

And pointed to the sky ; 
I showed him how the dark clouds. 

So slowly sailing by, 
But veiled the bright sun's radiance 

From valley and from hill ; 
For the faithful sun was shining 

In all his glory still ! 

lie ceased to weep, and listened ; 

I socthed his childish woe ; 
Then on the way I led him. 

And soon beheld him <?o 



THE WAYSIDE WATCHER. gq 

Back through the green fields singing j 

oweet was the joyful sound, 
That told the father's welcome, 

And the little wanderer found I 

Then on the highway, near me, 

I saw the Stranger stand — 
Stranger no more ! He guided 

The fair child by the hand. 
" I thank thee," said He softly, 

" Thou hast not watched in vain ; 
Behold my child returned 

Safe to my arms again." 

What grace is Thine, O Master 1 

For work so poor and scant ; 
How glorious is the guerdon 

My loving Lord doth grant I 
I only saw a nursling 

Was wandering astray : 
Oh, it is worth cross-bearing 

To wait for Thge one day I 

Have ye known the shadows darken 

On weary nights of pain. 
And hours that seem to lengthen 

Till the night comes round again > 



90 TIIK WAVSini': WATCHER, 



The folded handa seem idle : 

It' {bided at Hit* word, 
*Tis a holy service, trust me, 

In obedience to the Lord. 

Yc know the joy of labor 

AVilhiii the busy Held ; 
lint there are deeper i)leasures 

A faithful heart may yield. 
To willinjT ones that sulVer, 

And listen at His fcpt, 
From tlie I'ar-olV land God givetii 

The fruit of life to eat. 

Brief is my hour of labor : 

My Lord my lot hath cast ; 
Ho giveth royal wages 

To the first-called as the last. 
I have seen Him in His beaury, 

AVliile Avaiting here alone — 
I know Him ever near me, 

For He cannot leave His own. 

None e'er shall lack a service, 
AVho only seek His will ; 

And lie doth teach His children 
To sutler and he still. 



CAST DO WN li UT NO T D KST/iO YED. 9| 

In love's deep fount of treasures 
8«u;li pniciourt tliiug-s are stored, 

Laid uj) for you, () hlcsM^'d 
Tliat wait U2)on the Lord 1 



CA.ST DOWN JHJT NOT DESTROYED. 

M\]VA\ liav(! 1 horno, but uol, as I should bear; 
'flic proud will unsubdued, the fornud prayer 
Tell me 'J'hou yet wilt chide. Thou (;anst not spare 

O Lord, Thy chast(!uing rod I 
O help me. Father 1 for niy sinful heart 
Back from this discipline of grief would start, 
Unmiudfiil of His sorer, deeper smart, 
Who died for me, my God I 

Yet if each wish denied, each woe and pain, 
Break but some link of that oppressive chain 
Which binds us still to earth, and leaves a atain 

Thou only canst remove — 
Then am I blest- oh, bliss from man concealed I 
If here to Christ, the weak one's tower and shield 
My heart through sorrow be set free to yield 

A. KTVKMi of deep love. 



ABOUNDING IN HOPE. 



ABOUNDING IN HOPE. 

HOPE, Clinstian soul ! in every stage 
Of tliis, thine earthly pilgrimage, 
Let heavenly joy thy thoughts engage— 
Abound in hope. 



Hope I though thy lot be want and woe, 
Though hate's rude storms against tlieeblcw. 
Thy Saviour's lot was such below — 
Abound in hope. 

Hope ! for to all who. meekly bear 
His cross, He gives His crown to wear ; 
Abasement here is glory there — 
Abound in hojpe. 

Hope ! though thy dear ones round thee die, 
Behold with Faith's illumined eye 
Their <:leathlcss home beyond the sky — 
Abound in hope. 

Hope ! for upon that happy shore 
Sorrow and sighing will be o'er. 
And friends shall meet to part no more — 
Abound in hope. 



**HE GIVETH SOxVGS IN THE NIOET:' 93 

Hope througli tlie watches of the nigli t : 
Hope till the morrow bring the light : 
Hope till thy faith be lost in sight — 
Abound in hope. 



"HE GIVETH SONGS IN THE NIGHT:' 



1 



7E praise Thee oft for hours of bliss, 
For davs of auiet rest ; 



But, oh, how seldom do we feel 
That pain and tears are best ! 

We praise Thee for the shining sun, 
For kind and gladsome ways : 

When shall we learn, O Lord ! to sing 
Through weary nights and days. 

We praise Thee when our path is plain 
And smootli beneath our feet ; 

But fain would learn to welcome pain, 
And call the bitter sweet. 

\Vlien rises first the blush of hope, 

Our hearts begin to sing ; 
But surely not for tliis alone 

Should we our gladness bring. 



04 " //^ GIVETII SONGS IN THE NIOHT." 



Are there no hours of conflict fierce. 

No weary toils and pains, 
No Avatching-s, and no bitterness, 

That bring their bless6d gains ? 

That bring their blessed gains full -we*., 

In truer faith and love, 
And ])atience sweet, and gentleness, 

From our dear Home above 1 

Teach Thou our weak and wandering hearts 

Aright to read Thy way, — 
That Thou with loving hand dost trace 

Our history every vlay. 

Thou every thorny crown of care 

AVorn well in patience now, 
Shall grow a glorious diadem 

Upon the laithful brow ; 

And every word of grief shall change 

And wave a blessed flower. 
And litY. its face beneath our feet 

To bless us every hour ; 

And Sorrow's face shall be unveiled. 

And w^e at last shall see 
Her eyes are eyes of tenderness, 

Her speech but echoes Thee 1 



NEAREST AND DEAREST. 93 



NEAREST AND DEAREST. 

IT was the Sabljath's Ijlessed evening hour, 
And the dusk stilhiess of the fire-lit room 
Fell on the spirit with a soothino- power, 

A spell of holy calm uii mixed with glonm. 
The lire-light llickered upon steadfast eyes, 

Brows where the Prince of Peace his seal had set, 
And tremulous lips where echoes of the skies, 
Most eloquent in silence, lingered yet. 

At length the musing of one heart found way ; 

" Oh, it is bliss !" she said, " to join the throng 
That fills God's temple on His holy day, 

With the full harmony of sacred song. 
Surely the soul draws nearest to Ilim there. 

And bows with holiest awe before His throne; 
Surely the highest bliss of faith and prayer 

Is found within those sacred courts alone 1" 

*' Nay," said ancther, " not alone ! Our Lord 
Dwells not in temples made with hands. He 
fills 

The lone heights of the everlasting hills, 

And dwells with all v.ho tremble at His word I 

And I have fjlt His blessed presence more, 
And c wned widi lowlier awe its hallowing swaj 



00 AA''-< li h'ST AND n h'A /i!/iW7; 

On tlu> l«>n^ liill-nldo or thd wrtvo-WMnlKMl shore, 
'I'lijiii »'V(Mi ill IHm \u)\\m\ oI' prnyiM- to-duy." 

'riicM Hj)uU«» !i Ihlrd -" Oh, iViriulM, lull well I Know 

'V\u\ joyrt yo Hponk ol'; Imi( ono dtv-inM' I'nr 
CoincM io IMC «)l'l<"ii ill Ihc ccMMclrMM How 

Oi' >vcrK-dny ciivh, aiu'id ('urtirM <lin Mild Jnr, 
When lor iv luoiuont'H l)rcmlhin^-tin\o I pauHo, 

HiiyiiijXi ' <^ Mus(<M', 1)I(»MM,' iUid h) 1 tho wliilo, 
11(« Nlimdrt JM'Hidt" mo, tiiul my Hpirll drnwM 

A hoiivoM ol" rent, imd gludiioHH iVom MIh Hinilo." 

Sho ('(V\k(mI, Mild (lu'M oiK^ nnsAworcd y«>l iiiialii — 

" \vi\, it iM ff//^^f>/.v hlisH to fool Jlim nciir 
it) tMowd, or Moiitudo, or sacrod fane, 

Jhit M<<\(>r i^ llin pr(>Henoo iiaiF ho <h'Mr 
Aa when (he Ml«M'ms of sorrow oNm* us iiuu't. 

And wo willi bloodiiiu" lio;ir<. and i)allhHl will, 
FniiU yt'l |Mirsuin_u"' HtrujJi'jvh' l<» Him [\c{, 

,\i\d Imv <Mir souIm IvM'oro llim. ;nid mih^ slill." 

'riirii ;ill \V(MV silonl, and my luv'iri. said, "Yea, 
Thou hasi wril spokoii, (hou d(»sl well io \)y\7.i\ 

niy,!\(M" lliau any Misn l»i<no;i(h (ho sUios, 

Tlio laith llial olin,\'s:uid truuls I lim ' (houjdi lie 
slay.' 

This is tli<» Olio nolo in llio sons; ol' praiso, 
[{•Olin;;" Irom all onviliou n>tmd (ho (liroue, 



ntucr NOT mn m<ni 

'I'liMt >ifily liiiiniin liniirfM Honi Iil,.<l ciiii mind 
And cvcii Mi<-y ill lliin l.iirl" lilc jilono." 



07 



w i<: K r N {> I' /<'(} /.• // /,;/,./ 

lUrJOJ' n(.(, Ibr Iku-, lor mImi Imlli cn.MM,,,! IJin 
M river, 

W(< nliiioHl, mw ///■/// iiktI, Imt on (h,, ,i||,,r„^ 
And l,.!„| lir, ||,ro„u|, (|,„ ,.,,1,,,.,, ^^.,,,,.^,^ ^ii^^j.^ 



n("\<'r 



Morrow <»r dndli citii nilcr iinv in<»r(<. 

Wcrp nnl, for h.i, (li;,|, ,,||<. |.„(,|, r,,,r|,rd l>rinvr ua 
'I'll*! Hidb, Wimii ,ilirl(„r of l.rr lu.i;.; |,,vcd lioii.n ; 

VV.d|) iiol, (or li(-r, mI;« m„,y l>n iM-ihlin/^ o'rr hh, 
III (|iiin|, woiidi'r wUru w(f Inn mIimII coiimi. 

Wh^P ii<»l I',))- lM,r ; IJunk how hI.o nmy I,,, kii(,„Ii„^ 
(Jiizinu, her fill iipoi, (|,„ MiimIci'm liico ; 

A lovill;;, lilliiil.lc MIllllo, |)||(; imJC n^v.MJiiig 
'I'Imi i>r,i\rl peace ,.!„> CeelM in /I/w////, |,|/U!0. 

i»ii(. W('<-|» Cor Mi.,M(. ,011, Ml v/hoin (|„. |i;.|,j, j^ 
(liron/'jn/r, 
Wlioplill i.niil, iHiri.l.. I,rMv.y unnoiiroM, 
Who d.-in- not. pruy Cor rcHl, l,lio,|.rh ,„/,.„ (,|,„|, 

I'Hl.rin;^^ 

'I'd! all Mm. wojir.y work in/. d„y |,„ ,|,,„j, 
1/ 



98 AN OPEN DOOn, 

Aud pray for tlicm, that they, tbougl; st*:i uud 
lonely, 

May still with ])atiencc bear the cross He sends. 
And learn that tears, and wounds, and losses, only 

Make peace the sweeter wh n the warfare ends, 



A N PEN D R . 

OTT, never say that the door is shut 
To any watcher weary of sin 1 
Thou knowest who said, and who says it still, 

" Ye weary and troubk'd to rest come in." 
We may stand without till lie says, "Too late," 
But GcxTs is ne'oer a fast shut gate. 

And though we have otteu refused to coiue, 
And chosen to wander alone in the night, 

He follows us home, and at our shut door 
lie knocks, and oilers us love and light; 

And lie says to each, '' Thou rebellious child, 

1 beseech thee this night to be reconciled I" 

And we answer, " O Chiist 1 it is cold and dark, 
And I long to be warm, and safe, and tree, 

But Satan lias bound me and locked the door. 
And he holds me back when I touch the key 

lie told me once that my luunc was bright. 

But no>v 1 foci it is always night." 



AJf OPEN DOOR. 00 

And we Lear a Voice, though the door is shut, 
We can catch the words though tlie wind is high, 

As the Holy S])irit unlocks the door, 
And Jesus enters and says, '' 'Tis 1 1" 

And straiglitway our fetters broken fall, 

And we know tliat our Saviour has done it all. 

Then never say that his door is shut- 
lie loved us befc re we had heard his name ; 

lie olVered us pardon, and hope, and Heaven, 
And if we relusid it, is Christ to blame ? 

If in unbelief we shut the gate, 

Can we say that Cluist has made us wait ? 

And He knew we were cold and hungry too, 
So He begged us to come, and be warmed, and 
fed, 
But we passed, and knocked at another door, 
Ajid they gave us a stone when wo asked for 
bread ; 
Yet we said, " No, Lord ! we will keep our sin, 
Thougli Thy door is wide, and there's joy within." 

But He waited still, though we passed Ilim by; 

And when all false lights had grown dim He 
came — 
He made us willing to hear His voice. 

And 'twas He that taught us to love His name; 



J 00 *'i>0RK'0n7KG TFT REJOICING: 



And He brings a liglit tbat no sLade can dim. 
When lie dwells iu us, and wc in Ilim. 



SORROWIXG Yh:r ALWAYS REJOIClMh 

NO sorrow is iinnunglcd liere, 
But still, in every bitter cup 
Is found the sweet ingredient, hope ; 
Who deepest drinks shall find it there. 

Shall find it when he needs it most ; 

For when the night doth darkest grow, 

Darkness alcove, all dark below, 
Ajid faith and hope are all but lost. 

How oft a gleam of glory sent 

Straight through the deepest, darkest night, 
lias filled the soul with heavenly light, 

With holy peace and sweet content I 

Content to wait the will of God, 
To cast on llim the heavy load, 
To walk with Ilim the weary road 

With patience, leaning on the Lord. 

Content to suftlr and be still, 

Without complaining bear the cross, 



" son no WING ykt liKwioiNar i oj 

I'lndiiH' (lie piiiii, .'U'cci)!, (Ii<> Iohh, 
or nil nndi's (n>!isiircM, if (jod will. 



(^(Mitciit (,() Ic'trii liy HiilVctinu' loii/ic. 

Ill (l.iiUiK'Ms Hiill l,o k<(i» (Imj (uitJi ; 

Slill (riisliii;'; wliil, (lie, Siiviour saitli, 
Tlinl. pcilrcl vvc.'ikiH'ns i)i!»y he siroiifr, 

Coiitciil l(f follow wlicni II(! I rod, 
TIk; Mmi of /^riclH who {•jimc! io load, 
'rJHMiisclvrM. lilu' Ilim, nil [)Cl'lbctc(l 

Throii;;li Hullcriiig, imiuy boiih to (Jod. 

Yt'S I tli(M'(! WMM one, Mild only oiiu, 

IJnmiiifjjIcd cup of hiUorndHH ; 

Hut (lod, who pi(,i(!<l our diHtrcsH, 
Onv(! it to Ilin l)(',lov6<l Hon. 

Uo dniiiU it wilh tlni hitter rry, 
" O Fjither I it \t HO iii:iy Im!, 
1 pray 'rii(!(5 let \i piiMM froin M(>; 

Yet l)c it iiH Thou wilt, not I." 

IIiidHt Ihoii, my houI, h(!('ji then; alone, 
Thou (VMildit nut, it, like Ilim oppnn^'cd, 
'JMiiit cup hud Io thy lipM hccii pressed, 

Have H.'iid wilh Ilim, "Thy will he done t" 



102 " so/mo WLVG VKT R KJOICL\(V' 

Tot from (hat cup all swivlncss llowa, 
All joy of lit'o, all hope of heaven, 
All }.;iiu"o and cotisolation giveu 

To sulVorers in a worKl of woes. 



Ves ! ai.d (o Him who iliaiik (hat cup 
In meek siil>nussion. (houi;!i UMtoUl 
Its ni^'ony ; who can iint\)l(l 

Its sweetness now, as lilleil up 

Far above i)oweiN of Earth or Heaven, 
He sees the fruit His augu'sh horo ; 
He si>es the world all dead betoro, 

Live iu the life lie thus hath given? 

Ami ever as the a^es glide 

His title of joy shall onward roll, 
Till He the travail of His soul 

Shall see, >u\d shall bo satistied. 

Bo every bitter eup of >voo 

Shall yield a blessing at the h\st. 
And when the bitterness is piust. 

With living sweetness overtlow. 



n'AITING FOR SPRING. 103 



ir.i/7v.vc; i<U)R >sru/ya. 

W\VV\K(\ lor hpiiiiK I Tho inoUicr, watc.liing 
loiu'ly 
J{y Uv.v Hick cliild vvhcii all the ni}.;lit is (liiinl), 
Ile.'irinj^- no houikI Have his hoarHo l)roai!iin^ <>"b'i 
Saitli, " llo will nilly vvlmn iJio Spriii/^-day3 
conu^" 

Wailinfif (br Sprinj;' 1 Ali, me, all nature tamos 
As inolioiildss and cold slu! lies asleep, 

Wrapt ill Ihu' ^recn pinci rolxi that never vanes, 
Wearing out Winter by this soutliern deep, 

The tiiils are too unl)ri>keu on tlu; bosom 
or those great woods; we want Home ligbt- 
j^reeii h1 loots ; 

Wo want the wliite and nnl :ic;i,ei.i blossom, 
Th(! blue life hid in all tlies(! russet roots. 

Waitiii^^ for Spring I The he.uls of men nro 
watching 

KmcIi for sonu! l)etter, brighter, liiircr thing 1 
Kaeh ear a tlistant soiuid most sweet is eateliing, 

A herald ot* the beauty oi' his spring. 

Waiting lor Spring 1 'J'lie nations in their ang'T 
Or deadlie<r torixn wrapt, look c/iward, still 



104 ir.^/'/vAv; i^vv; sp/c/xo. 



Feel a far hope through jiU their strife and lanp:iioi , 
And better npirits in them throb and thrill. 

^V!Uiin^ lor Sj)rini;; ! C'lirisliMns ar<' waiting over, 
liody iuul Ho\\\ by sin nnd |>!\ii\ bowed down; 

Look for (he linu- when all thes^c eloudH shall sever, 
Sec l\i;';li above the eross a llowery erown. 

Waiting- ibr Spring I Toor luvirts 1 how oil ye 
w»>ary 

lioolving l"or b(>tter Ibingx, and grieving nnieh 1 
Earth lieth still, though all her bowers be dieary; 

She trusts her God, nor thrills but at His touclu 

It niusi be so the man, the soul, the nation, 
The moth(M by her ehild— we wait, we wait, 

Dreaming out futures; life is expectation, 
A grub, a root that holds our higher state. 

Waiting for Si>ring— tbo gern\ for its perfection, 
Earth I'or all charms by light and color given, 

The body for its robe of resurrection. 

Sou's for their Saviour,Christians for our llcaveu 



IVAITLMJ I'Vli aillUST. IOC 



WAITING l''(>U cilUl^r. 

T\7E wait for Tl>(>(\ nil f^lorioun Ono 1 
VV Wo look for Tliiiu! Hi)p('!ir'nK , 
Wo Ixitir Thy iiiiind, and oji ilio tlirono 
VVr Hct) Thy prcMnuMM^hccriiif;-. 
Fulih (!Von now 
UpliflH ilH lnovv, 
And 8(H!H lh(i lionl (hwioidinjjf, 
And wil.li Him bliss tincndiiiK- 

\Vc wait for TIk^) through days Ibrlorii, 

III pnlictit s<'ir-d('iii:i,I ; 
"W'c know lliut Thou our j.niilt hath borne 
Upon Thy cross oC liiiil. 
And well may wc 
Submit Willi Thco 
To bear the, cross and lovo it, 
Until Thy hand rcniovo it. 

We wtiit for 'V\\w, ; already Thou 
llnst all our luMirts' Hubniission ; 
And thouf^h tln^ spirit ncos 'i'hcc now 
Wo loii^i: la- .tpcn vision ; 
When ours shnll bo 
Bwcot rest with Thoo 
And pm-c, unfadin;:^ pleasure, 
And life in (mhIIohh moanuro. 



1 3Q TR UST A.\D JiKSr 

Wu wait for Thee with certain hope 

The time will soon be over ; 
With childish louging we look up 
Thy glory to discover. 
O bliss ! to share 
Thy triumph there, 
When home, with joy and singing, 
The Lord his saints is bringing. 



T]U:ST A XL) IiFSy\ 

IT^KET not, poor soul ; while doubt and fear 
. Disturb thy breast, 

The pitying angels, who can see 
tlow vain thy wild regret must be, 
Say, Trust and rest. 

Plan not, nor scheme, but calmlv wait ; 

His choice is best ; 
"\Miile blind and emng is thy sight. 
His wisdom sees and judges right. 

So trust and rest. 

Strive not. nor struggle ; thy poor might 

Can never wrest 
The meanest thing to serve thy will ; 
All power is His alone ; be still, 

And tj-ust and rest. 



THE HOUSE OF GOD. ]07 



Desire not ; self-love is strong 

Within thy breast ; 
And yet He loves thee better still, 
So let Him do His loving will, 

And trust and rest. 

"NYhat dost thou fear ? His wisdom reigiiB 

Supreme, confessed ; 
His ])ower is infinite ; His love 
Thy deepest, fondest dreams above. 

So trust and rest. 



TEE HOUSE OF OOD. 

ONCE slow and sad the evening fell 
On desert path, on lonely dell. 
As, sad and desolate, 
One laid him down to sleep alone. 
His couch the sand, his pillow stone, 
The morning-tide to wait. 

But gleamed before his dazzled sight 
A radiance more than morning light, 

From opened portals given ; 
And on his charmed ear there rung 
A sound more sweet than matin song— 

The choral hymns of Heaven. 



1 08 'i'JJf'^ HOUSE OF OOD 



ITo saw the gloiT of that place, 
AVhosc light is God the Saviour's face. 

He saw its dwellers fair ; 
A till learnt that— desolate, alone, 
A wanderer from his Father's home, — 

God's presence still was there. 

So we (though often worn, oppressed. 
We wander, seelcing home and rest) 

In sorrow's darkest hour 
May see, as Jacob saw of ohi, 
God's sunbeams bright and manifold, 

The shades of night o'erpower. 

For not in temi)le hoar alone, 

In cloistered shade, 'neath sculptured slone, 

S^tandsnow God's house below ; 
But whcnsoc'er His radianco bright 
Gleams on our darkness and 'tis light. 

His presence we may know. 

Transfigured in ITis Glory, fair 

The whole earth stands, one house of praytil'- 

One ante-room of Heaven ; 
For surely, though we know it not, 
Gjd's presence is in every spot. 

To those who seek it given. 



THE JUDGMENT-SEA T, 1 09 



Tlien let us strive, and work, and wait, 
As tliose who see that opened gate — 

Tliat gh)ry in our night ; 
So that at last, througli Christ the way, 
We, too, may tread that land of day. 

Where God, the Lord, is light. 



THE CHILD ON THE JUDOMENT-SEAT. 

WHERE hast been toiling all day, sweet-heart, 
That thy brow is burdened and sad ? 
The Master's work may make weary feet. 
But it leaves the spirit glad. 

Was thy garden nipped with the midnight froat, 
Or scorched with the mid-day glare ? 

Were thy vines laid low, or thy lilies crushed, 
That thy face is so full of care ? 

" No pleasant garden-toils were mine I — 

I have sate o*;! the judgment-scat, 
Where the Master sits at eve and calls 

The children around His feet." 

How camest tliou on the judgment-seat, 

Sweet-heart ? Who set thee there ? 
Tis a lonely and lofty seat for thee. 

And well might till thee with care. 
10 



110 THE JVnOMENr-SEA T, 

"I rliinluHl on (lu^ judivmont-seat myself, 

1 luive sato thoro nlono nil ilnv, 
For it !j,r.ovtHl juo ti> soo Iho rliildron nroinui 

liHin;^' thoir lilo away. 

*' 'JMu^Y wasli^l the Master's procious seed, 

Thov Avastod tho j)r(H'ious hours ; 
They trained not Wn: vim^s, nor gathered the tVuit?, 

And {\\c\ trampled tiu' sweet, met>U nowei"s." 

And what hast thou done on the Judg'meut-scat, 
Swei^t-heart ? M'hat didst thou there ? 

WouKl the idlers heeil thy ehildish voice? 
Did the garden mend by thy earo ? 

" Nay, that grieved mo more 1 1 lalUd and I cried 

But they left me there forlorn ; 
My voice was weak, aiul they heeded not, 

Or they laughed n\y words to scorn." 

Ah, the Judgment-soat was not lor thee 1 

The servants were not thine ! 
And the eyes which adjudge the praise and the 
Mame, 

See further than tliine or mine. 

The V(^iee that shall sound there at eve, sweet- 
heart. 
Will not rais*. it^ tout's to be heaixl, 



/ 7/ A' ,/ UD a M /:.\ 1 S KA T. \ \ 1 



ft; will IiumIi IIu' ciirlli, mikI liiisli (lui licartrt, 
And none will i'cmImI Km word. 

•* BhouUl I M('(i (he MaMlcr'H irciiHiiroH lost, 
'V\\v stores lli.il sliotlld \'vv^\ Mim poor, 

And not lil't my voice, ho it vvciik nii it muy, 
And not ho ^riovotl soro T' 

Wait (ill tli(^ ovenin;;' lulls, swecit lieiirt, 

Wait till tlio <!V«'nin<4- falls ; 
Tlio Master !« near nmX knowcitli all, 

Wait till tho J\laHt(!r oalls. 

Hut liow fared thy {jfardcni-plot, Hwoet heart, 
Whilst thou Hat'st on Ww Jnd'4in(!nt-?H(!at ; 

Who watered thy roscH and traiiu'd Ihy viiUiH, 
And ke|)t them from curolcHH foot? 

" Nay, that is Maddest of all (o me! 

That is Hat I lest of all I 
My vin(\s are trailin/j;, luy roses aie |)aroho(l, 

My lilies drooj) and fall." 

Go hack to thy /;ardon-|)lot, Hwoct heart I 

(Jo hack till tho cvcuiuf^ IjiIIh I 
An<l hind thy lilies, and train thy vino*, 

Till for Ihco tho Mastor ealls. 



112 1(0 W I LA Y ME DO WN TO SLEEP, 



Go make tliy garden fair as tliou canst, 

Thou workest never alone, 
Perchance he whose plot is next to tliine 

AVill see it, and mend his own. 

A.nd Ihe next may copy his, sweet heart, 
Till all grows fair and sweet, 

A.nd when flic INIaster comes at eve, 
Happy faces His coming will greet. 

Then shall thy joy be full, sweet heart. 

In the garden so fair to see, 
Fii the Master's words of praise for all. 

In a look of His own for thee ! 



j\OW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLhJEP. 

IN the quiet nui'sery chambers, 
Snowy pillows yet unpressed. 
Sec the forms of little children 

Kneeling, white-robed, for their rest, 
All in quiet nursery chambers. 

While the dusky shadows creep, 
Hear the voices of the children — 
• Now I lay me down to sleep." 



NO w I :.A y .i/a; no ir/V to si kkr \ j 3 

In (lio hkmmIow and tlio niounitiin 

(/iilmly Hliino tlio winter hIhth, 
But iicroHti tiMi f'lislcimin" IowI.iikIm 

Slaiils the tnoonli^lit's nilvcr burs 
In the, silence Jind the dnrkiicHs, 

DurkncHs f^rowinu;' still more deep, 
Listen to the little ehildren 

Praying (Jod their houIs to keep. 

" II' we (li(!" — 80 pniy tin- children, 

And the niotluT's h(;ud <ln)ps low ; 
(One Ironi out her fold jh Mh(!j)iiiir 

Deej) benc^fitli the winter's snow) ; 
" Take our souls:" and past tho casement 

Flits a ulc.iin ol' crystal light, 
Like the trailing of his garnienta, 

Walking overnioro ix). white. 

Little Houls that stand expeetant, 

Jiist(Mi at the gatcH ol' lile ; 
Ilcuriug, JMnLway, the niunuur 

or tli(! tumult and the stril'e: 
We, who light beneath those banncra, 

Meeting ranlis of foemen there, 
Find a dcc^per, broadcir meaning 

In your simple V(;;4p(!r prayer. 

When your hands shall grasp this standard, 
Whi(;h to-day you watch Iroui lar, 
10* 



1 14 TEE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 

Wlien your deeds shall shape the conflict 

In this universal war, 
Pray to llini, the God of battles, 

AN' hose strong eye can never sleep, 
In the warring of temptation, 

Finn and true your souls to keep. 

When the combat ends, and slowly 

Clears the smoke from out the skies, 
Then, far doTvai the puq)le distance, 

All the noise of battle dies. 
When the last night's solemn shadows 

Settle dov.'n on you and me, 
May the love that never faileth 

Take our souls eternally. 



r. 

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, 

PAINTED BY HOLMAN HUNT. 

I N the moonlight, when no mm'mur from the 

1. haunts of men is heard, 

And the river in its sleep flows onward, cnw^ard 

to the sea, 
And thou sleepest, who art drawing nearer to 

Eternity, 
In the silence and the stillness comes the Word. 



THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. ] 15 

And Ro knocketh at tliy portal, but tliou clreara- 

est in tlio niglit 
That the ih'tting bat is only striking Boi'tly 'gainaf 

the door ; 
Shall He knock so oft who cometb from the Ileav 

en's eternal shore ? 
Sleoi)er in the darkness, rise, behold thy Light I 

'Tis thy Priest and Prophet, clad in jewelled rol^o 
white attire ; 

*Ti8 thy King, and on Ilia brow lie wears the 
thorny coronal, 

Budding now with amaranthine leaves and flow- 
ers ambrosial. 

In His lace is speaking pity, silent ire. 

For His glowing lamp discloseth, choking up thy 

dwelling door. 
Deadly hemlock, barren darnel, prickly bramble, 

withered grasses, 
And the ivy knits it closely to its stanchions and 

passes 
Through the crevices, and hinges, and the floor. 

Let llim in I for lie will sojourn with the lowest 

and the least, 
And forget that thou didst keep llim v^ai^ing in 

the dews fc.nd damp, 



no '^^E LhJIlT OF THE WORLD. 



And for guerdon in tlic valley He will light tliee 

witn Ilis lamp 
To tlic liappy Shore Eternal and the Mjirriage 

1^'east. 



ri. 
77//-; LIU II T OF Tllh: WOIUJ). 

JOlvD, Thou iiast sought this wayward heart in 
J vaiu ; 

Choked by the world's vile weeds its portalg 

stand, 
Closed to the toueh of Thy redeeming Hand, 

Whieh, knoekiuLC gently, would an entrnnee gain; 

Oh, Love unspeakable ! that Thou shouldst be 
Patient amidst the night's chill falling dews, 
AVhile I Thy prolVered fellowship refuse, 

Slothful to rise nnil ope the door to Thee ! 

Long have I tarried, dreading yet to bear 

The emblems of Thy sulVering, thorns and cross 
Lost in idolatry of ]\rammon's dross. 

And lured by pleasure's transitory glare; 

Ileneeforth vouehsnfe to shed Thy light withlU: 
Illume my soul, and let these contrite tears 
r>lot out all record of my mis-spent yeai"s, 

Dark with the sad remeuibrances of sin ; 

Then, in this purilied, repentant breast, 

Enter, and be for evermore my Guest 1 



II 



ITE LEADS US ON. i\*i 



// 1<; L h' A J) s LIS oy. 

10 leads lis on, 

By paths we did not know, 
Upward He leads ns, tliongh our steps be slow, 
ThoMi!;h ot't we iaint and I'alter on tlu; way, 
Tliough storms and darkness ol't obscure the day. 
Yet when tlie clouds are gone 
We know IIo leads us on. 

He leads us on 
Through all the unquiet years ; 
Past all our dreamland hopes, and doubts, and 

fears 
lie guides our steps. Through all ibo tangled 

maze 
Of sin, of sorrow, and o'erelonded days 

We know His will is done ; 

And still He leads us on. 

And He, at last, 
A titer the weary strife — 
After the restless fever we call life — 
After the dreariness, the aching pain, 
The wayward struggles which have proved in VMU, 

After our toils are past' — 

Will give us rest at last. 



118 nOLY GhOST DIS PEL UR SA DNESS. 



HOLY onosr dispel our sadness. 

HOLY GHOST, dispel our sadness, 
Pierce the clouds of sinful night ; 
Come, Thou source of sweetest, gladness, 

Breathe Thy Life, and spread Thy Light 
Loving Spirit, God of Peace I 
Great Distributor of grace ! 
Rest upon this congregation. 
Hear, O hear our supplication 1 

From that height which knows no measure, 

As a gracious shower descend 
Bringing down the richest treasure 

Men can wish, or God can send 1 
O Thou Glory, shining down 
From the Father and the Son, 

Grant us Thy illumination I 

liest upon this congregation 1 

Known to Thee are all recesses 
Of the earth and spreading skii^ ; 

Every sand the shore possesses 
Thy Omniscient Mind descries. 

Iloly Fountain 1 wash us clean 

Both from en*or and from sin 1 
Make us fly what Thou refusest, 
And delight in what Thou choopesti 



ON A FFLTGTION. 1 1 9 



Manifest Thy love forever ; 

Fence us in on every side ; 
In distress he our Reliever, 

Guard iind teacli, support and guide! 
Let Thy kind cfTcctual grace 
Tarn our iect from evil ways ; 

8I10W Thyself our new Creator, 

And conform us ta Thy nature ! 

Be our Friend on each occasion, 

God ! omnipotent to save 1 
When we die, be our salvation ; 

When we're buried, be our grave I 
And, when from the grave we rise, 
Take us up above the skies, 

Seat us with thy saints in glory, 

There forever to adore Thee ! 



ON AFFLICTION. 

AS the harp-strings only render 
. All their treasures of sweet sound- 
All their music, glnd or tender — 
Firmly struck and tightly bound : 

80 the hearts of Christians owe 
Each its deepest, sweetest stram, 



120 TRUST. 

To the ])rcssure firm of woe, 
And tho tension tight of pain 

Si)i(.'os crushed theii pungcnce jield ; 

Trodden scents their s^-eets respire ; 
"Would you have its streugtli revealed, 

Cast the incense in the fire : 

Thus the crushed and broken frame 
Oft doth sw(H?test graces yield ; 

And through sutVering, toil, and shamn. 

From the martyr's keenest flame, 
Ilcaveuly incense is distilled. 



T R If S T. 

riTITE child leans on its parent's breast, 
JL Leaves there its cares, and is at rest " 
The bird sits singing l)y its nest, 

And tells aloud 
nis trust in God, and so is blest 

'jSfeath every cloud. 

lie hath no store, he sows no seed. 
Yet sings aloud, and doth not ne(xl ; 
By llowing streams or grassy mead, 

lie sings to shame 
Men, who forget, in fear of need, 

A Father's name. 



SUli\fIS.^10N. 



121 



Tlie heart t)iat trusts ibrovcr sings, 
And Ibcls as ll^-lit ms it had vvin<.^-s; 
A well of [){!a(c within it aprings; 

Come good or ill, 
Whate'er to-day, to-morrow brings, 

It ia Ilia will 1 



sun Afiss/oAr. 

SINCE thy Father's arm simtaina thee, 
reacolul be ; 
When a chastening hand restrains thee, 

It is He I 
Know ITia love in full completeness, 
Fc(!l the incaaure of thy weakness; 
If lie wound thy spirit sore, 

Trust Ilim more, 

Without muimur, uncomplaining, 
In Ilia hand 
Leave whatever things thou canst not 

Underatand ; 
Though the world thy lolly spuruetb, 
From thy faith in pity turnetli, 
Peace thy inmost soul shall III!. 

Lying atill. 



1 22 SUBMISSION. 



Like an infant, if thou thinkest 

Thou canst stanii, 
Childlike, proudly pushing back 

The proffered hand ; 
Courage soon is changed to fear, 
Strength doth feebleness appear ; 
In His love if thou abide, 

He will guide. 

Fearest sometimes that thy Father 
Hath forgot ? 

Though the clouds around thee gather, 
Doubt Him not ! 

Always hath the daylight broken, 

Always hath He comfort spoken ; 

Better hath He been for years 

Than thy fears. 

Therefore, whatsoe'er betideth, 
Night or day, 

Know His loye for thee provideth 
Good alway : 

Crown of sorrows gladly take, 

Grateful wear it, for His sake ; 

Sweetly bending to His will, 
Lying still. 

To His own thy Saviour giveth 
Daily sti'ength 



IS THIS ALL? 123 

To each troubled soul that liyeth 
Peace at length : 

"Weakest lambs have largest share 

Of the tender Shepherd's care ; 

Ask Him not, then, " When ?" or " How t" 
Only bow I 



18 THIS ALLf 

CfOzTETIMES I catch sweet glimpses of His face^ 

But that is all. 
Sometimes He loolcs on me and seems to smiley 

But that is all. 
Sometimes he speaks a p)ctssing word of peace^ 

But that is all. 
Sometimes I thinh I hear His loving voice 

Upon me call. 



And is this all He meant when thus He spoke : 

" Come unto me V 
Is there no deeper, more endui'ing rest, 

In Him for thee ? 
Tb there no steadier light for thee in Him f 

Oh, come and see I 



124 IS THIS ALL P 

Oh, come and see ! oh, look, and look again I 

All shall be right ; 
Oh, taste His love, and see that it is good, 

Thou child of night. 
Oh, trust Him, trust Him in his grace and power. 

Then all is bright ! 

Kay, do not wrong Him by thy heavy thoughts, 

But love His love 1 
Do thou full justice to His tenderness. 

His mercy prove ; 
Take Him for what He is ; oh, take Him all, 

And look above ! 

Then shall thy tossing soul find anchorage 

And steadfast peace ; 
Thy love shall rest on His ; thy weary doubts 

Forever cease. 
Thy heart shall find in Him, and in His grace, 

Its rest and bliss. 

Christ and His love shall be thy bless6d all 

For evermore I 
Christ and His light shall shine on all thy wayg 

For evermore ! 
Christ and His peace shall keep thy troubled sou] 

For evermore 1 



OPEN THO U OUR EYES: 1 26 



OPEN THOU OUR EYES. 

A ND He drew near and talked with thorn, 
1\. But they perceived Him not ; 
And mourned, unconscious of that light— 
The gloom, the darkness, and the night, 
That wrapt His burial spot. 

Wearied with doubt, perplexed and sad, 
They knew nor help, nor guide, 

While He who bore the secret key 

To open every mystery. 

Unknown was by their side. 

Thus often when we feel alone, 

No help nor comfort near, 
'Tis only that our eyes are dim ; 
Doubting and sad, we see not Him 

Who waiteth still to hear. 

" The darkness gathers overhead, 

The morn will never come !" 
Did we but raise our downcast eyen, 
in the wide-iiushing eastern skies 

Appears the glowing sun. 

In all our daily joys and griefs 
In daily work and rest, 
11* 



] 26 SUA D WS OF THE PAST, 



To thovse who seek Tlim, Cliiist is near, 
Our bliss to calm, to sootlio our care, 
Iji leaiiing on our breast. 

Open our e^^es, O Lord, we pray, 

To see our way, our Guide ; 
That by the path that here we tread, 
AVe, following on, may still be led 
In Thy light to abide. 



SHADOWS OF THE PAS'J. 

\ ORD,while the shadows of the past surveying— 
1 J And they are many since life's early mom : 
Life's shadowy days have had a long delaying, 
It matters not, since they are past and gone — 

Are past and gone. 

I find my steps are upward slowly tending. 
That falls the glory of thy smile upon 

The golden liights of steps to heaven ascending. 
And I am journeying slowly toward the dawn — 

Toward the dawn. 

I find my future in this world of sorrows 
Answers my prayers, and golden visions opo 

Of providences in the bright to-mon-ows, 
Fulfilling prayer ; this is my only hope — 

My only hope. 



A PRAYER FOR YOU. 12'? 

Tliis ])leasing "hope my weary licjirt inBjiires, 
Ff)r I have prayed, and in Thy Word 'tis wiit, 

That i\w,yj wlio to give Thee their warm dcsin^s, 
Shall walk the ways tliat tliey to Thee coiuuiit— 

To Thee commit. 



A r U A Y K R FOR Y U. 

I HAVE a Saviour— He's pleading in glory — ■ 
So precious, though earthly enjoyments be few; 
And now lie's watching in tenderness o'er me ; 
But, oh, that my Saviour was your Saviour too I 
For you I am praying — I'ni praying for you I 

I have a Father— to me lie has given 
A hope for eternity, precious and true ; 

zVnd soon will my spirit be with Ilim in heaven ; 
But, oh, that He'd let me bring you with me too 1 
For you I am praying I'm praying for you 1 

I have a Crown, and I'll wear it ibrever, 
Encircled with jewels of heavenly hue ; 

'Twas jjurchased by Jesus, my glorified Saviour; 
But, oh, could I know one was purchased for 

you I 
For you I am praying — I'm praymg lor you 1 

I have a Robe — 'tis resplendent in whiteness — 

Awaiting in glory my wondering view ; 
Oh, when I'll receive it, all shining in Ijngntncss, 



128 A PRATER FOR YOV. 



Dear friend, could I see you receivimg one too 1 
For you I am praying — I'm praying for you I 

T have a Rest— and tlie earnest is given — 
Though now, for a time, 'tis concealed from my 
view ; 
This life everlasting, 'tis Jesus, 'tis heaven ; 
And, oh. dearest friend, let me meet you there 

too! 
For you I am praying — I'm praying for you I 

I have a Peace, and it's calm as a river — 

A peace that the friend of the world never 
knew; 

My Saviour alone is its Author and Giver ; 
But, oh, could I know it was given to you 1 
For you I am praying — I'm praying for you I 

For you I am praying — for you I am praying 1 
For you I am praying — for you, yes, for you 1 

And soon shall I hear you rejoicing and saj-ing: 
" Your dear, loving Saviour is my Saviour too 1" 
And prayer will be answered for you— yes, for 
you! 

And when He has found you, tell others the story, 

IIow Jesus extended Ilis mercy to you ; 
Then point them away to the regions of glory, 



HEAR MY CRY! 129 

And pray that your Saviour may bring them 

there too ! 
For prayer will be answered — 'twas answered 

for you I 

Oh, speak of that Saviour, that Father in heaven ; 

That Harp, Crown, and Robe which are waiting 

for you 1 

Tiiat Peace you possess, and that Rest to be j^ivcn I 

Still praying that Jcrius may save them like you ; 

And prayer will be p^nswered — 'tv/as answered 

for you ! 



HE A R M Y C R Yl 

STRONG to save and bless, 
My rock and righteousness 
Draw near to me ! 
Blessing, and joy, and might, 
Wisdom, and love, and light 
Are all with Thee I 

My refuge and my rest, 

As child on mother's breast, 

I lean on Thee I 
From faintness and from fear, 
When foes and ill are near, 

Deliver me I 



130 HEAR MF CFA'! 



Turn not away Thy face, 
Witliliold not needed gracej 

My fortress be 1 
Perils are round and round, 
Iniquities abound — 

See, Saviour, see ! 

Come, God and Saviour, come ! 
I can no more be dumb ; 

Appeal I must 
To Thee, the Gracious One, 
Else is my hope all gone, 

I sink in dust ! 

Oh, answer me, my God, 
Thy love is deep and broad, 

Thy grace is true ! 
Thousands this grace have share<.l 
Oh, let me now be heard. 

Oh, love me too 1 

Descend, Thou mighty love, 
Descend from heaven above, 

Fill Thou this soul 1 
Heal every biuis(5d part. 
Bind up this broken heart., 

And make me whole. 



FRUITLESS TOIL. |gj 

Tis knowing Thee that lieals ; 
'Tis seeing Thee that -seals 

Comfort and peace I 
Show me Thy cross and blood, 
My Saviour and my God, 

Then troubles cease. 



FRUITLESS TOIL. 

U T ORD, I have toiled all night, 
ij And still unblessed my hand ; 
Yet I will luuach into the deep 
Once more at Thy command. 

" I hear triumphant songs 

Swell from the banks around. 
Each answering each with joyful cry 
But /no spoil have found. 

" Fruitless is all ray toil. 

Through loag night-watches past, 
My heart is sick with hope deferred ; 
But Thou art come at last." 

The fisher's hands hung down ; 

Dull was his heart, and faint, 
Wlien a heavenly voice the silence broke, 

And answered his complaint. 



132 FRTJITLESci TOIL. 



" Wlieii have I left thee, son, 

That thou shoiildst droop with feai* ? 
When hast thou sought my sympathy, 
And hast not found Me near 't 

" Not fruitless is thy toil, 

If thou my cross wouldst bear ; 
I do but ask thy willing heart 
To grave my image there. 

** For each net vainly cast 

Stronger thine arm will prove ; 
The trial of thy patient hope 
Is witness of Thy love. 

" The time, the place, the way 
Are open to mine eye ; 
I sent thee— not to gather spoil — 
To labor patiently. 

" My son I was not thy cry, 

' Increase my faith, O Lord ! 
More of Thyself, and more like Thee 
Behold, thy prayer is heard. 

** Ohj trust Me with thy crown, 
'Tis hidden safe with Me ; 
A little while, and where I am. 
There shall my servant be. 



THE TWO WORLDS. 133 

" Bright seems thy brother's lot ; 
But, child, is thine so dira ? 
The King^ thy Friend, hath asked of thee 
To watch one hour with Him I" 



THE TWO WORLDS. 

TWO worlds there are. To one our eyes we strain, 
Whose magic joys we shall not see again ; 
Bright haze of morning veils its glimmering 
shore ; 
Ah, truly breathed we there 
Intoxicating aii - 
Glad were our heai'ts in that sweet realm of 
Nevermore. 

The lover there drank her delicious breath, 
Whose love has yielded since to change or death ; 
The mother kissed her child whose days are o^er. 
Alas I too soon have fled 
The irreclaimable dead : 
We see them— visions strange— amid the 
Nevermore. 

The merry song some maiden used to sing — 
The brown, brown hair that once was went to 
cling 
12 



184 THE TWO WORLDS, 



To temples long clay-cold : to the yerj core 
Tlicy strike our weary hearts, 
As some vexed memory starts 

From that long faded land — the realm of 
Nevermore. 

It is perpetual summer thers. But here 
Sadly we may remember rivers clear, 
And harebells quivering on tlie meadow-floor, 
For brighter bells and bluer, 
For tenderer hearts and truer, 
People that happy land — the realm of 
Nevermore. 

Upon the frontier of this shadowy land 
"We pilgrims of eternal sorrow stand : 
Wliat realm lies forward, with its happici store 
Of forests green and deep. 
Of valleys hushed in sleep. 
And lakes most peaceful ? 'Tis the laud of 
Evermore. 

Very far off its marble cities seem — 
Very far off — beyond our senpual dream — 
Its woods, unruffled by the wild winds'' roar : 
Yet does the turbult ut surge 
Howl on its veiy verge. 
One moment — and we brea':he within the 
Evermore. 



THE TWO ANGELS. 135 



They wboiii we loved and lost so long ago, 
Dwell in those cities, far from mortal woe — 
Haunt those fresh woodlands, w^hence sweet 
carolings soar. 
Eternal peace have they : 
God wipes their tears away : 
They drink that river of life which flows for 
Evermore. 

Thither we hasten through these regions dim, 
But lo ! the white wings of the Seraphim 
Shine in the sunset ! On that joyous shore 
Our lightened hearts shall know 
The life of long ago : 
The sorrow-burdened past shall fade for 
Evermore. 



THE TWO ANGELS. 

TWO angels, one of Life and one of Death, 
Passed o'er our village as the morning broke ; 
The dawn was on their faces, and beneath 

The sombre houses hearsed with plumes of 
smoke. 

Their- attitude and aspect were the same ; 
Alike their features, and their robes of white ; 



136 TEE TWO ANGELS. 



But oue was crowned ^dth amaranth, as with 
flame, 
And one with asphodels, like flakes of light. 

I saw them pause on theii' celestial way ; 

Then said I, with deep fear and doubt oppressed, 
" Beat not so loud, my heart, lest thou betray 

The place where thy belov6d are at rust I" 

And he who wore the crown of asphodels, 
Descending at my door, began to knock ; 

And my soul sank within me, as in wells 
The waters sink before an earthquake's shock. 

I recognized the nameless agony. 

The terror, and the tremor, and the pain. 

That oil before had tilled or haunted me. 

And now retm*ned with tlu'cefold strength again. 

The door I opened to my heavenly guest. 

And listened, for I thought I heard God's Toicc ; 

And, knowing whatsoe'r He sent was best, 
Dared neither to lament nor to rejoice. 

Tlien with a smile, that filled the house with light, 
'' My errand is not Death, but Life," he said ; 

And, ere 1 answered, passing out of sight 
On his celestial embassy he speti 



JS THER K ^n B A L M LY G IL KA D? 1 3 7 



Twas at tliy door, O friend 1 and not at mine, 
Tlie aniTcl with the auiarautliino wreath, 

Pausing, descended, and with voice divine, 
Whispered a word that had a sonnd like Deatli, 

Then I'eh upon the house a sudden gh)oin, 
A shadow on those features fair and thin ; 

And softly from that hushed and darkened room 
Two angels issued, where but one went in. 

All is of God 1 If lie but wave Ilis hand. 

The mists collect, the rain falls thick and lou.l, 

Till, with a smile of light on sea and land, 
Lo 1 lie looks back from the departing cloud. 

Angels of life and death alike are His ; 

Without Ilis leave they pass no threshold o'er 
Who, then, would wish or dare, believing this. 

Against Ilis messengers to shut the door ? 



IS THERE NO BALM IN OILEADf 

IS there no balm in Gilead, then ? is there no 
Healer nigh ? 
No fn^sheuing spring to cheer the waste so deso- 
late and dry ? 
Hath Hope's dear vision vanished forever from 
thy sight, 



138 ^-^ TUh'/ili NO UALM IN GILEADf 

And (Inrknosfi fallen around tlioe, the very gloora 

of niyht ? 
And seems th^ soul Ibrsaken, her evei^ blessing 

ilown * 
No soothini; for her sorrow, and nowhere to mako 

her moan ? 
Yet slny ; the cross thou bearest thus hath first 

been borne for thee, 
Jesus lliniself did Imnu' thereon, thy life and euro 

to be. 

For thine own ease lie bare it all, — the scourge 

and piercing thorn, 
The nailing and the bruising, the denial, shame, 

and sc(U"n ; 
Darkness and desolation deep, and pangs beyond 

thy thought, 
And all for thy soul's healing these sad agonies 

wiM-e wrought. 
U]U)n His Cross lie yeiu'ucd for thee, for thee His 

heartstrings brake ; 
ITiinself of all foi-saken, He could not thoe forsake; 
Then evermore, when chastenings sore thine inmost 

spirit wring, 
Siiy, My Belov'discTucified, and I to Him will cling. 

How shall I sing Thy holy love, dear Passion of 

my Lord ? 
Or how Thy mystic vii'tue shall I worthDy record i 



IS TllFAi K NO J A LM IN QILUA Df 139 

f hou art tVe spriiif,^ of all our hope, the balsam 

of our woes, 
Tlio m\;\vA\ of our ycarningH, and tlic bower of 

our repose, 
True Paradise of all delights, siiu e joy of grief 

is born ; 
For, as the llowers but eloso at night to ope nioru 

Iresli with morn, 
So He wlio wept and l)Iod for us, and bowed in 

earthly gloom, 
Now makes those sorrows our bright bliss, those 

wounds our joyous home. 

Ilerc is a covert from tiie storm, when winds ard 

waves arise, 
A shadow in the scorching noon, a light in star- 
less skies ; 
A staff upon tiu; rugged road, a shield when foes 

assail, 
A charm Divine, against whose might no evil can 

prevail ; 
For where the Cross of Jesus is, is peace, and 

there alone. 
And 'neuth that banner of His love He gntheretb 

His own ; 
And tho3C who will be Christ's must not o'er 

grudge their portion small, 
Who in His l>ittcr clialice, once, and for thee, 

drained it all. 



140 ^S THERE NO BaLM IN GlLEADf 



Tlioii know'st ITe Trent not up to joy, but first 

Ho sutlorod pain, 
And all the soU-same path must tread who thus 

His bliss would gain : 
Is aught too weiuisome or hard for Jesas' saJie to 

bear ? 
TVhile He is crowned with thorns wilt thou a 

crown of roses wear ? 
Lo 1 this good Cross He otTers thee ; it is thy ycry 

life ; 
Anoint with holy unction, it will aid thee in the 

strife ; 
'Tis hallowed by thy Sayiour's touch, who hung 

on it for thee, 
And Loye's sweet night shall make it light, and 

win the victory. 

Draw near, thou reft and drooping heart, draw 

near anil lift thy gaze 
To Him who yeaj-ns with outstretched arms thee 

from thy grief to raise ; 
Draw near, and, clinging close licneath thy 3a- 

yiour's bleeding heart, 
I'ell o'er each throb of that deep woe in which 

thou hast a part ; 
Tell o'er each drop of dear iife-blood which ebbs 

for thee so fast. 
And all thy weaiy heart-aching upon that true 

love cast • 



OnRISTS CALL TO THE SOUL. n^ 

In Jesus' Cross and Passion is tlic medicine of thy 

soul, 
Yea, there is balm in Gilead, and a Ilealer to make 

thee whole. 



CHRIST'S CALL TO THE SOUL. 

FAIR soul, created in the primal hour, 
Once pure and grand. 
And for whose sake I left My throne and power 

At God's right hand ; 
By this sad heart pi(u"ced through l:)ecause I loved 

thee ; 
Let love and mercy to contrition move thee. 

Cast off the sins thy holy beauty veiling, 

Spirit divine ! 
Vain against thee the hosts of hell assailing, 

My strength is thine 1 
Drink from My side the cup of life immortal, 
And love shall lead the path to heaven's portal. 

I for thy sake was pierced with many son'ows, 

And bore the cross, 
Yet heeded not the galling of the arrows, 

The shame and loss. 
Bo faint not, then, whatc'cr the burden be, 
But I)ear it bravely, even to Calvary. 



i 



142 THEIR NAMES. 



TIIETR iVAMh'S. 

n WET/r (lioii-lit, my God ! tlmt on the palms 
U Of 'J'liy most holy liaiuls 
Are graven all Thy peoples' names, 
Though countless as the sands. 

Not one too mean to have his place 

An\itl that record blest, 
And if but then' our names are found, 

We'll share the heavenly rest. 

How can wc then yield to distrust, 

Or think we are forgot, 
While ever thus the care of One 

Who loves and changes not ? 



T ]V 



fy\WO buds plucked from the tree, 
J. Two birdies flown from the nest, 
Two little darlings snatched 

From a fond mother's breast. 
Two little snow-white lambs 

Gone from the sheltering fold, 
Two little narrow graves 

Down in the graveyard cold. 



*-TllY SlIIKLD AND liUGKLEUr \\^ 



Tw^ little tlrooping flowers 

Growiiii^ in [)uroi' air, 
Bloom iii'T iVagnint and bright 

In the Gardener's care. 
Two little tender birds 

Flown lar from fear and harm, 
Two little snow-white lambs 

In the Good Shci^herd's arm. 

Two little angels more 

Singing with voices sweet, 
Flinging their crowns of gold 

Down at their Saviour's feet. 
Free from all earthly care, 

Pure from all earthly stain, 
Oh, who could wish them back 

In this drear world ajijain ? 



"^//^ TRUTH ,SIIALL BK THY SHIELD 

AND nucKJ.Kur* 

WHEN my sins in aspect dread 
Meet like waters o'er my head. 
Seen in light of God's own face, 
Darker for his oflcred grace — 
When I sigh for healing rest, 
By a ho})ele88 yoke opprest, 

♦ Psaliuf x( i. 4. 



144 " THY SmELD AND BUCKLER: 



Struggling in a grasp too strong, 

Borne as by a wind along — 

Then, I Lear that Voice from Heaven, 

" Knock, and entrance shall be given — 

Elim that comes, whoe'er he be, 

I will never cast from Me !" 

When / come, with trembling heart, 

Will the Saviour say, " Depart ?" 

Shall I find His pardon free 

Is in wrath denied to me ? 

Is my guilt so deep in stain 

That the cleansing blood is vain ? 

" Heaven and earth shall pass away. 

Not My Words — " so Christ doth say : 

In that hour, '' His Truth shall be 

Shield and buckler unto thee." 

Wlien the clouds have hid His face, 
And His path no more I trace, 
And all comforts that illume 
Life, have faded into gloom — 
Quenched each earth-enkindled spark, 
Can I trust Him in the dark ? 
Will my wavering faith still hold 
To a promise breathed of old ? 
When I meet some foe unknown, 
Shall I find myself alone ? 
Soul, by faith thou walkcst here : 



*' THY SHIELD AND BUCKLER:* 145 

Though nor sun nor stars appear, 
Wait and watch througliout the nio-ht 
And till daybreak ask not sight ! 
All unseen, thy Heavenly Guide 
Walks, through darkness, at thy side. 
" Heaven and earth shall pass away, 
Not My Words—" so Christ doth say : 
In the gloom " IIis Tkuth shall be 
Shield and buckler unto thee." 

In the terrors of the night, 
In the mid-day arrows' flight, 
When destruction wasteth near, 
And all faces blanch with fear, 
When a thousand round me fall. 
Shall I trust Thee calm through all ? 
Will this trembling spirit be 
Kept " in perfect peace " by Thee ? 
Though all stable things may end. 
Earth and sky in tempest blend, 
Shall I lean upon Thy breast, 
And beneath Thy shadow rest ? 
Wilt Thou arm my soul with power. 
Ne'er experienced till that hour ? 
" Heaven and earth shall pass away, 
Not My Words—" so Christ doth saj ; 
In that strait " IIis Trutf shall be 
Shield and buckler unto thee." 
13 



]4G " ^^Jty -^f^I^f^n AND buckler:* 



As tlir wcnry years go by, 
"Will my love wax cold, and die? 
If tliG pilgrimage be long, 
Life be dark, and foes be strong, 
Shall I not grow faint, and yield ? 
Shall I ever win the iield ? 
-How shall 1 endure and dare ? 
ITow the cross in patience bear ? 
How through tedious years sustain 
Wavering conllict, oft in vain ? 
Nay, but the Unchanging Friend 
" Will confuMn you to the end P"* 
*' lie Who hath the work begun 
Ne'er will leave that work undone — " 
While at God's right hand He lives, 
Deathless is the life He gives. 
Through all change, and woe, and strife, 
" Springing up to endless Life." 
•' Heaven and earth shall pass away, 
Not j\Iy Wokds— " so Christ doth say 
In all yeai*3 " His Truth shall be 
Shield and buckler unto thco." 

When 1 reach life's earthly bound, 
And the shadows diyken round. 
All familiar things and dear 
Fading fast from eye and ear, — 
In that hour of mortal suuirt. 



. THE OTHER it IDE. \ 47 



Trcnil)Iinf; floBh ana fuilinp^ heart, 
Slinll 1 liiul my anchor vain, 
Partinf»- in th it latest strain ? 
Hear the Shepherd's voice of old, 
Lookinj^ on Ilia helpless Ibid, 
Looking I'ar, with gaze Divine, 
Down the ages' lengthening line : 
" Every feohl*^ sheep I know : 
Liib eternal I bestow : 
None shall pluck them from My hand." 
Shall that word of promise stand ? 
Or, when couatless foes allVight, 
Closing round in latest fight, 
In that deadl/ hour and dim, 
Shall my soul be snatched from Ilim ? 
" Heaven and earth shall j)a88 away, 
Not My Words -" so Christ doth say : 
In death's grasp " Ilia Truth shall be 
Shield and buckler unto thee." 



THE Til 1<:H .S7 7> K. 

WE dwell this side of Jordan's stream, 
Yet oft there comes a shining beam 
Across fron yonder shore ; 
While visions of ii holy throng, 
And sound of harp, and serajjh song, 
Seem gently wafted o'er. 



148 THE OTHER SIDE. 



The oilier side ! Ah, there's the place 
Where saiDts in joy past times retrace, 

And think of trials gone ; 
The veil withdrawn, they clearly see 
That all on earth had need to be, 

To bring them safely home. 

The other side 1 No sm is there, 

To stain the robes that blessed ones wear 

Made white in Jesus' blood : 
No cry of grief, no voice of woe, 
To mar the peace their spirits know^ 

Their constant peace with God. 



The other side ! Its shore so bright 
Is radiant with the golden light 

Of Zion's city fair ! 
And many dear ones gone before 
Ah'eady tread the happy shore : 

I seem to see them there. 



The other side ! Oh, charming siglit ! 
Ujjon its banks, arrayed in white, 

For me a loved one waits : 
Over the stream he calls to me, 
Fear not— I am thy guide to be, 

Up to the pearly gates. 



I AM CHRISrS X49 

The other side ! Ilis well-known roice, 
And dear, bright face, will me rejoice : 

We'll meet in fond eni])race. 
He'll lead uie on, until we stand, 
Each with a palm-branch in our hand, 

Before the Saviour's face. 

The other side 1 The other side 1 
"Who would not brave the swelling tide 

Of earthly toil and care ; 
To wake one day, when ILle is past, 
Over the stream, at home at last, 

With all the blessed ones there I 



1 AM CHRIST'S, AND CUIUS 7' IS MINK 

LONG did I toil, and knew no earthly rest ; 
Far did I rove, and found no certain home ; 
At last I sought them in His sheltering breast 

Who opes His arms, and bids the weary come. 
With Ilim I found a home, a rest divine ; 
And I since then am His, and He is mine. 

Yes, He is mine ! and naught of- earthly thingF, 
Not all the charms of pleasure, wealth, or power, 

The fame of heroes, or the pomp of kings, 
Could tempt me to forego His love an hour: 

Go, worthless world, I cry, with all that's thine J 

Go I I my Saviour's am, and He is mine. 
13* 



150 I AM CHRIST'S. 



riie good I have is from His stores supplied ; 

The ill is only Avlmt He de-jms the best ; 
lie for my friend, I'm rich with naught beside, 

And poor without Him, though of all possest 
Changes may come ; I take, or I resign ; 
Content while I am His, whie He is mine. 

"Wliate'cr may change, in Hiin no change is seen ; 

A glorious sun, that wanes not nor declines ; 
Above the clouds and storms He walks serene, 

And sweetly on His peoples' darkness shines : 
All may depart ; I fret not, nor repi ne, 
"While I my Saviour's am, while He is mine. 

He stays me fiiUing, lifts me up when down, 
Reclaims me wandering, guards from every foe 

Plants on my worthless brow the victor's crowu, 
AVhich, in return, before His feet I throw ; 

Grieved that I cannot better "race His shrine 

Who deigns to own me His, as He is mine. 

While here, alas 1 I know but half His love, 
But halt" discern Him, and but half adoro ; 

But when I meet Him in the realms above, 
I hope to love Him better, praise Him more ; 

And feel, and tell, amid the choir divine, 

How fully I am His, and He is mine. 



SATISFIED. 



151 



S A TISFI E D, 

JESUS I Friend unfiiiling, 
llow dear art Thou to me I 
Are cares or fears assailing ? 

I find my strength in Thee 1 
Why should my feet grow weary 

Of this my pilgrim way ? 
Rough though the path, and dreary, 
It ends in perfect day. 

Naught, naught I count as treasure, 

Compared, O Christ, with Thee 1 
Thy sorrow without measure 

Earned peace and joy for me. 
1 love to own, Lord Jesus ! 

Thy claims o'er me and mine : 
Bought with Thy blood most precious, 

Whose can I be but Thine ? 

What fills my soul with gladness ? 

'Tis Thine abounding grace I 
Where can T look in sadness, 

But, Jesus, on Thy face ? 
My all is Thy providing ; 

Thy love can ne'er grow cold ; 
In Thee, my Refuge, hiding, 

No good wilt Th;^u withhold I 



152 SATISFIED, 



Why should I droop in sorrow ? 

Thou'rt ever by my side : 
Why. trembling, dread the morrow S 

What ill can eVr betide ? 
If I my Cross have taken, 

'Tis bnt to follow Thee ; 
If scorned, despised, forsaken, 

Naught severs Thee frtmi me ! 

Oh, worldly pomp and glory 1 

Your charms arc spread in vain } 
Fve heard a sweeter story, 

I've found a truer gain ! 
Where Christ a place prepareth. 

There is my loved abode ; 
There shall I gaze on Jesus, 

There shall I dwell with God » 

For every tribulation, 

For every sore distress, 
In Christ I've full salvation. 

Sure help, and quiet rest. 
No fear of foes prevailing ! 

I triumph, Lord, in Thee 1 
O Jesus 1 Friend unfailing 1 

llyvf vlejir art Thou to me I 



THE DA Y OF REST. 



]r.8 



THE BA Y OF REST. 

ODAY most calm, most bright, 
Tlic fruit of this, the next worhl's bud 
The endorsement of supreme deliglit, 
Writ by ti Friend, and with His blood ; 
The couch of time, care's balm and bay : 
The week were dark but for Thy light, 
Thy torch doth show the way. 

The other days and thou 
Malce up one man, whose fice Thou art, 
Knocking at Heaven with thy brow ; 
The worky-days are the back part ; 
The burden of the week lies there. 
Making the whole to stoop and bow, 

Till- thy release appear. 

Man had straightforward gone 
To endless death ; but thou dost pull 
And turn us round to look on One, 
Whom, if we were not very dull, 
Wc could not choose but look on still 
Since there is no place so alone. 

The which He doth not fill. 

Sundays the pillars are 
On which Heaven's palace arch6d liea ; 



J 54 THE DA Y OF REST. 



Tlie other days fill up the spare 
And hollow room, with vanities. 
They are the fruitful beds and borders, 
In God's rich garden, that is bare, 

Which parts their ranks and orders. 

The Sundays of man's life, 
Threaded together on time's stiing, 
Make bracelets to adorn the wife 
Of the eternal, glorious King. 
On Sunday Heaven's gate stands ope ; 
Blessings are plentiful and rife — 

More plentiful than hope. 

This day my Saviour rose, 
And did enclose this light for His ; 
That, as each beast His manger knows, 
Man might not of his fodder miss. 
Christ hath took in this piece of ground, 
And made a garden there for those 

Who want herbs for their wound. 

The rest of our creation 
Our great Redeemer did remove, 
With the same shake, which at His Passion 
Did the earth and all things with it move. 
As Samson bore the doors away, 
Christ's hands,though nailed, wrought our salvation, 

And did unhinge that day. 



TTtE SHULAMITE. 155 



The brightness of that day 
We Bullied by our foul offence ; 
Wherefore that robe we cast away, 
Haying a new at His expense, 
Whose drops of blood paid the full price 
That was required to make us gay, 

And fit for Paradise. 

Thou art a day of mirth ; 
Ajid where the week-days trail on ground, 
Thy flight is higher, as thy biilh ; 
O let me take thee at the bound. 
Groping with thee from seven to seven. 
Till that we both, being tossed fi'om earthy 

Fly hand in hand to Heaven 1 



THE SHULAMITE AT THE LORD'S FEET. 

POOR heart ! why throb thus wildly in my 
breast ? 
The more I ponder on my Master's word. 
The more are doubts and fears within me stirr'd. 
Long as my eyes on my own weakness rest. 

I to come forth 1 What, I ! 'Twas so He said— 
My wav'ring steps to others must be guide, 
My feeble arm must 'gainst the foe be tried ; 

There a whole world — and here a lowly maid I 



156 LOVE THAT PA SSETff KNO WL ED GS. 

Ah, no, my Lord 1 and yet the call is Thine t 
I npoke unwisely, keeping self in sight ; 
I'll only look on Thy ull-saving miiiht — 

Be calm, my heart 1 lor my Beloved is mine. 

Ve.^, my Beloveil is mine — what -svouldst Ihcu 
more ? 
The cause is His ! It is His work I do 1 
He is my rock, my shield and buckler too ; 

Of strength and wisdom my unfailing store. 

And I am His. Oh, heart, be tliithful still 1 
Still let Him lead me as it seems Ilim best 1 
With Him to combat, or with Him to rest, 

March, or encamp, according to His will. 

My Friend is mine, and I forever His : 
Himself he gave, myself to Him I give; 
In me He dwells— in Him alone I live : 

Was ever union half so blest as this ? 



THE LOVE THAT PASSETll KNOWLEDQE 

NOT what I am, O Lord, but what Thou art I 
That, that alone can be my soul's true rest ; 
Thy love, not mine, bids fear and doubt depart, 
And stills the tempest of my tossing breast. 



LO VK Til A 7 PASSKTIl h'NO Wl. KDGK. \ 5 7 

It is Thy jxii'fcct lovo tlmX chmIh out AiJir; 

I know the. voi('(3 that HpcaUs Iho " Ft is I;" 
And in tlie.MO well-known wordi-i ol" heavenly checrj 

T Ilea:' the- joy thai l>i<ls cac.li tion-ow lly. 

Thy name la Lovo I 1 hear it iroin yon Cross ; 

'JMiy name is Lovo 1 1 road it in yon tomb ; 
All nioancir lovo is |)eriHha.l)lo droHH, 

But this shall li^ht iiio through time's thickest 
jj^loom. 

It blosBOH now, and shall tbrovcr blesM ; 

Tt Ha,V(!H mo now, and shall Ibrevor save; 
It hohls m(*- up in days of hclph'ssnoHS, 

It hears mo salbly o'(!r oueh swuHinj:^ wuvo. 

Girt with the lovo ol" (ilod on every si<h;, 

Breathinj^'that love as Ileaveirsown healing aiir, 

I work or wait, still ibllowin!^' my ^iiith^, 
Bravinjjf each Ibo, es(!apin^' every snare, 

'Tis what \ know ol' 'I'hee, my Lord and (Jod 
Thai lills my sou! with p(!aeo, my li[)s with song \ 

Thou art my health, my joy, my stall' and rod ; 
Leaning on Thee, in weakness \ am strong. 

( am all want and hunger; this faint luiart 
I*inos I'or a. fullness which it linds not here ; 

Dear on(!S are leaving, and, as tlnjy depart, 
Make room within for something yet more doar« 
M 



158 I^E SHEEP- TRA CK. 



More of Thyself, oh, show me hour by hour 
More of thy glory, O my God and Lord I 

More of Tliyself in all Thy grace and power. 
More of Thy love and truth, Incarnate Word I 



THE SHEEP-TRACK. 

rpWO ways : only two. One leadeth 
X Home to the land of rest, 
And the Good Shepherd guides the flock He 
feedeth. 
The road He knoweth best. 

The feeble lamb, within His bosom hiding, 

Is precious as the strong ; 
The sick He tends : in sweet compassion guiding 

The weary one with young. 

He leads them forth, He goeth out before them ; 

And where the two ways meet. 
They look to Him, whose eye is watching o'er them. 

To guide their wavering feet. 

They own a mark by which the Master claims them, 
Thouj^h oft the sign seems dim ; 

And well they know the Shepherd King who 
names them — 
They hear and follow Him, 



THE SHEEP- track; j 59 

S wett sounds His voice. All other calls unheeding. 
They watch where lie may lead ; 

And in His face of love His wishes reading, 
The flock that track will tread. 

Narrow it is, and rough, and often lonely, 

Upon the mountain steep : 
There's room for Jesus, and for Jesus only, 

And for His timid sheep. 

Around spread flowery fields where in their blind- 
ness 
The careless ones would roam : 
Sharp soems the Shepherd's rod that fa^s in kind- 
ness 
To bring the wanderers home. 

Fierce howls the wolf, and adders creep around 
them ; 

But succor He will send ; 
For He who in the wilderness first found them 

Will keep them to the end. 

Two ways : only two. The other bendeth 

Down unto hell beneath ! 
Broad is the gate, and frantic mirth ascendeth 

From crowds that rush to death. 



160 " GOOD LORD, DELIVER UST 



No hcayenly friend will soothe tlieir hopeles sor« 
row. 

No arm their burden bear ; 
No fold of rest awaits them on the morrow, 

No Shepherd King is there. 

For tliem death's bondage, and a night of weeping 

That hath no dawn of day. 
Oh, Christ I who o'er Thy flock Thy watch art 
keeping, 

Thou art the Truth, the Way I 



HN ALL TIME OF OUR TRIBULATLOIT 
GOOD LORD, DELIVER US!" 

SAVIOUR I by Thy sweet compassion, 
So unmeasured, so Divine ; 
By that bitter, bitter Passion ; 

By that crimson Cross of Thine ; 
Bt the woes Thy love once tasted 
In this sin-marred world below, 
Succor those in tribulation, 
Succor those in sorrow now. 

Thou ^Vho wast so sorely burdened, 
Uelp the weak that are oppressed *, 

Sanctity all earthly crosses, 
For the commg day of rest ; 



''GOOD LORD, DELIVER us r IQl 

Give tLe meek a trustful spirit 

That will always lean on Thee, 
And in storms of deep affliction 

Still Thy gracious Presence see. 

Lord, Thou hast a holy purpose 

In each suffering we bear ; 
In each throe of pain and tcrroi, 

In each secret, silent tear ; 
[n the weary days of sickness, 

Famine, want, and loneliness ; 
tn our night-time of bereavemeiit. 

In our soul's Lent-bitterness. 

A.11 the needful sweet connection 

Of this gentle Iland of Thine, 
All Thy wise and careful nurture, 

All Thy faultless discipline : 
All to purge the precious metal, 

Till it will reflect Thy face ; 
All to shape and polish jewels 

Thine Own diadem to grace. 

liord, we know that we must ever 

Take our cross and follow Thee 
All along the nan'ow pathway, 

If we would Thy glory see, 
U* 



102 ''GOOD LORD, DELIVKK DST 

Then, oli, help us each to bear it, 
liy Thine own hard lite of shamo ; 

I.ct us sutler well and meekly, 
Let us glority Thy name. 

Cheer the weak ones who are bending 

*Neath this weary burden now ; 
Lift the pallid t'aees upward, 

Smooth the eare-worn, furrowed brow j 
Send a bright and hopeful message 

To each tried and t<?mpted hetu-t, 
That the thiek and gloomy shadows 

At that sunshine may depart. 

Tell them Thou canst see all sorrow 

In this worUrs rough wilderness ; 
Tell thom Thou art near to succor, 

Near to comfort and to bless ; 
Tell them of Thy Cross and Passion, 

Tell them of Thy trials sore. 
Tell them of the Angel-city 

Wbeit is joy for evermore. 



VISITATION OF THIS SICK, ion 



VISITATION- OF TlIK STCK. 

PICACE to thifl houHO I O Thou Whoso way 
W:is on the WiivcH, VVhoHCi voice did ritay 
The wild vviM<l'H r)i;^(!, coino, Lord, and Hay, 
Poaco to this house I 

Thou, VVlio in pity for tho weak 
Didst (juit Thy hcavonly 'I'iirono to seek 
And save tho lost, come, Lord, and Hpcak 
Pca(;c to this house I 

Tliou, Who dost all our sorrows know, 
And when onr l(!ara of an<^nish How 
Dost foul {;()ni])asHion, come, bestow 
Peace on thin house I 

Thou, Who in agony didst pray, 
"Take, Fathcn*, taki; this ('n[) away," 
And then wast Htroni^thened, corno and buy, 
I'euce to this house I 

() ConfiU(!ror by huIH rinf( 1 
O niitdity Victor I glorious King I 
From out of i)ain and sorrow bring 
Peace to this house I 



104 VIS IT A TION OF THE SICK. 

nioii, Wlio triumpliant from the dead 
Thine Hands didst o'er the Apostles spread, 
And say, " Peace to yon," come, and shed 
Peace on this house I 

Thou, Who didst on the clouds ascend, 
And then the Holy Spirit send. 
Send Him to comfort, and defend 
All in this house I 

Lord, in the Sacramental food 
Of Thine own Body and Thy Blood, 
Peace that is felt, not understood, 
Give to this house 1 

Save, save us sinking in the deep. 
Give ease from pain and quiet sleep, 
And under Thy wing's shelter keep 
All in this house I 

" Peace to this house," come, Lord, and say 
Come to us. Lord, and with us stay , 
Oh, give, and never take away 
Peace trom this house 1 

And when at last our fainting breath 
On trembling lii)s scarce quivereth, 
Oh, briug us through the gate of Death, 
Lord, to Thine House 1 



THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST. 165 



To Thine own Tlouse in Paradise, 
To Thine own House above the skes, 
To live the lite that never dies, 
Lord, in Thine Uouso 1 



THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST, 

IMiiRVEL night and day, and cannot cease — 
Ask evermore. Can tliis thing be ? 
Heaven brought to earth — her Maker made my 
peace, 
God bound, to set me free I 

I cannot love Thee as I vrould and ought ; 

But, by Thy grace presenting still. 
From all things else to Thee retui'ns my thought, 

And brings Thee back my will. 

All thoughts, all searches, to this centre tend ; 

All rays in this one focus meet ; 
Here, as of old, the wise men journeying send 

Their treasures at Thy feet. 

There is no record, but doth hint of Thee ; 

All history else were false and vain; 
The stones Thy kingdom preach ; loosed with tliig 
key, 

All hardest things aie plain. 



1 00 THE MYSTF.HY OF CmUST. 

Then.' is no \\i3dom but doth taste of Thine ; 

All lights that did Thine own forernn 
Canght Thy prevcnient gleams, as clouds thut 
sliine 

In the unrisen sun. 

The glories of earth's empires, age by age 

Submitting grandly to decay, 
"Were but the' illusive dawn that did presage 

Thy fixed and perfect day. 

Art's beauteous dreams, the charm of thought and 
song, 

The majesty of rule and law, 
The single mind outsoaring from the throng, 

Gilted a world to draw, — 

Wliat were they all but i)rcludc8 poor and fiklnt 

Of Thy supreme imperial reign 
In glory and in beauty, when each sauit 

Thy likeness shall attain ? 

Thou hast been here ; of old, as no^v, 

Walking unseen the paths we go ; 
But in the central years, one lifetime, Thou 

Thy visible form didst show. 



THE GIVKR ANL THE GIFTS. 167 



A cloud did steal Tlicc from us ; but that hour 

Thy <i;lonoas niiiiistry l>ogun ; 
Thou gav'st the word— from tlionce, with (^uick- 
enino- power, 

That word the eartli o'erran. 

Thou art uot gone, but hidden ; to our sense 
Tliou shalt return ; Thou didst not show 

Thy glory at the lirst, whose height immense 
Stooped to our stature low. 

Till Thy true advent dawn. Thy Church, like Thee, 

Shall suller, die, and rise again ; 
Then, glorified, made white, eternally 

With Thee on earth shall reign. 



THE OIVEll AND THE GIFTS 

rilllE path I trod so pleasant was and fair, 
1. I counted it life's best ; 

Forgetting that Thou, Lord, hadst jjlaced me there 
To journey towards Thy rest. 

Forgetting that the path was only good 

Because the homeward way, 
I held it fuUef^t Ijcauty where I stood — 

I thought these <,dcams the day. 



168 THE OlVEIi AKD THE GIFTS. 



I kn(;w I might have socii in eyery star 

That sheds its lii^ht on me, 
A lamp of Thine, set out to guide from far 

My steps towards home and Thee ; — 

Have heard in streams with bending grasses clad, 

AVhich sparkled through the sod, 
The music of the river that makes glad 

The city of our God ; — 

In flowers plucked but to wither in my hand, 

Or passed with lingering feet, 
Have read my Father's promise of a land 

Where flowers are still more sweet. 

And I have knelt, how often, thanking Thee 

For what Thy love hath given. 
Then turned away to bend to these my knee, 

And seek in these my Heaven. 

Forgive me that I, looking for the day, 

Forgot whence it would shine ; 
And turned Thy helps to reasons for delay, 

And loved not Thee, but Thine. 

Vet most for the cold heart with which I write 

Of sin so faintly felt : — 
This frost of doubt, this dai'kness as of night 

Thy love can cheer and melt. 



"/ WILL ARlSK." 169 



Ou mc unworthy shed, O Lord, the glow 

Of Thy dear liglit and love, 
That I may walk with trusting fiiith below, 

Towards the fair land above ; 

That I may learn in all Thy gifts to see 

The love that on me smiled, 
And find in all I have a thought of Thee, 

Who thus hast blessed Thy child ; 

And most in what Thy tendcrest love hath given 

Those to my heart most dear ; 
May I through these look upward to Thy Heaven, 

In these find Thee most near. 



"/ WILL ARISE AND GO TO MY FATUER." 

I ASK if Thou canst love mc still, O God ? 
They say Thou canst not love so weak a thing — 
One that was angered by a Father's rod, 
One that hath wayward and rel)ellious been, 
Unstable, thankless, prone to every sin. 
Thou knowest all — yet whither shall I go. 
To leave my sins and with them leave my woe, 
Except to Thee, who only help canst bring, 
And bid me live thy pardoning love to sing § 
15 



170 WAKING. 

I coiiio, my sinful thoughts have vexed me long •, 

I Hy, for evil spirits rouud nie throng, 

And I am weak, but Thou, my God, art sfciong I 

My tears are llowing — no. Thou canst not see 

Thy child in anguish and not pity me. 

I lay my head upon thy infinite heart, 

I hide beneath the shelter of thy wing ; 

Pursued, and tempted, helpless, I must cling 

To Thee, my Father ; bid me not depart, 

For sin and death pursue, and life is where Thou art i 



W A KINO. 

I HAVE done, at length, with dreaming ; 
Henceforth, O Thou Soul of mine. 
Thou must take up sword and gauntlet, 

Waging warfare most divine. 
Life is struggle, combat, victoiy — 

Wherefore have I slumbered on 
With my forces all unmarshalcd, 

With my weapons all undrawn ? 
Oh, how many a glorious record. 

Had the angel of me kept. 
Had I done instead of doul>te,d, 

Had I warred instead of wept ! 



WAKING. 171 

But, begone I regret, bewailing, 

Ye but weaken at the best ; 
I liave tried the trusty wcapoiia 

Resting erst within my breast : 
I have wakened to my duty, 

To a knowledge strong and deep, 
That I dreamed not of aforetime 

In my long, inglorious sleep : 
For to lose is something awful. 

And I knew it not before ; 
And I dreamed not how stupendous 

Was the secret that I bore — 
The great, deep, mysterious secret 

Of a lite to be wrought out 
Into warm, heroic action, 

Weakened not by fear or doubt. 
In this subtle sense of living, 

Newly stirred in every vein, 
I can icel a throb electric, 

Pleasure half-allied to pam. — 
"I'lS so great— and yet so awful — 

So bewildering, yet so brave, 
To be king in every conflict 

Where before I crouched a slavo. 
It's so glorious to be conscious 

Of a glorious power within. 
Stronger than the rallying forces 

Of a charged and marshaled sin. 



172 NOTHING BUT LEAVES. 



Never in those old romances 

Felt I luilf the sense of life 
That I feel A\ithLD me stiriiiig 

Standing in the place of strife. 
Oh, those olden days of dalliance, 

Wlicn I wantoned with my fate, 
When I tiifled with a knowledge 

That well-nigh had come too late 
Yet, my Soul, look not behind thee, 

Thou hast work to do at last ; 
Let the brave toil of the Present 

Overarch the crumbling Past ; 
Build thy great acts high, and higher, 

Build them on the conquered sod 
Where thy weakness first fell bleeding, 

And thy first prayer rose to God. 



NOTHING BUT LEAVES. 

NOTHING but leaves ! the spirit grieves 
Over a wasted life. 
Sins committed while conscience slept ; 
Promises made, but never kept ; 
Hatred, battle, and strife — 
Nothing but leaves. 

Nothing but leaves : no garnered sheaves 
Of life's fair ripened grain ; 



PAUL OEUIIARDT'S HYMN. 17; 



Words, idle words, for earnest deeds. 
We sow our seed — lo 1 tares and weeds 
Go reap with toil and pain 
Notliino: but leaves. 



"& 



Nothing but leaves : memory weaves 

No veil to sever tlie past ; 
As we return our weary way, 
Counting eacb lost and misspent day, 

We find sadly, at last. 

Nothing but leaves. 

And shall we meet the Master so, 

Bearing our withered leaves ? 
The Saviour looks for perfect fruit : 
We stand before Ilim, humbled, mute, 
Waiting the word lie breathes — 
Nothin": but leaves. 



PAUL GERIIARDTS HYMN 

COMETH sunshine after rain, 
After morning joy again; 
After heavy, bitter grief, 
Dawneth surely sweet relief: 

And my soul, who, from her height, 
Sank to realms of woe and night, 
Wingeth now to heaven her flight. 
15* 



174 PAUL GERIIARDTS HYMN. 

He whom this world dares not face, 
Hath refreshed me with His grace. 
And His mighty Hand unbound, 
Chains of hell about me wound ; 

Quicker, stronger, leaps my blood 
Since His mercj, like a flood, 
Poured o'er all my heart for good. 

Bitter anguish have I borne, 
Keen regret my heart hath torn, 
Sorrow dimmed my weeping eyes, 
Satan blinded me with lies : 

Yet at last am I set free. 
Help, protection, love, to me 
Once more true companions be. 

Ne'er was left a helpless prey, 
Ne'er with shame was turned away, — 
He who gave himself to God, 
And on him had cast a load ; 

Who in God his hope hath placed, 
Shall not life in pain outwaste, 
Fullest joy he yet shall taste. 



" REST REMAlNETHr \ 75 



" REST REMAlNETHr 

riEST REMAINETE— oh, how sweet 
Floweiy fields for wandering feet, 
Peaceful calm for sleej^less eyes, 
Life for death, and songs for sighg. 



Best remaineth — hush that sigh ; 
Moui'ning pilgrim, rest is nigh ; 
Yet a season, bright and blest, 
Thou shalt enter on thy rest. 

Rest remaineth — rest from sin — 
Guilt can never enter in ; 
EvQry warring thought shall cease — 
Rest in purity and peace. 

Rest remainetJi — rest from tears. 
Rest from parting, rest from fears ; 
Every trembling thought shall be 
Lost, my Saviour — lost in Thee. 

Rest remaineth — oh, how blest 1 
We believe, and we have rest ; 
Faith, reposing faith, hath been 
'Mongst the things that are not seen. 



176 " ^ SHALL BE SA TISFIKDr 



Tlaus, my Saviour, let me be 
Even here at rest in Thee, 
And, at hist, by Thee possessed, 
On Thy bosom sink to rest. 



"/ SHALL BE SATISFIED." 

VrOT HERE I not here! not where the spaik- 
1.1 ling waters 

Fade into mocking sands, as we draw near ; 
Where in the wilderness each footstep falters : 
I shall be satisfied — but oh, not here ! 

Not here— where every dream of bliss deceives us, 
Where the worn spiiit never gains its goal; 
Where, haunted ever by the thought that grieves us, 
Across us floods of bitter memory roll. 

There is a land where every pulse is thrilling 
With raptm'e earth's sojourners may not know ; 
Wliere heaven's repose the weary heart is stilling 
And peacefully life's time-toss'd currents flow. 

Far out of sight, while yet the flesh infolds us, 
Lies the fair country where our hearts abide. 
And of its bliss is naught more wondrous told us 
Than the^e few words : " I shall be satisfitd !" 



JESUS, I AM ^EVER WEARY. 177 

Satisfied ! satisfied I the spirit's yearning ^ 
For sweet companionsbiio with kindied minds ; 
The silent love that here meets no returning, 
The inspu-ation which no language finds. 

Shall they be satisfied ?— the soul's vague longings, 
Tlie aching void which nothing earthly fills ? 

what desires upon my soul are thronging, 
As I look upward to the heavenly hills ! 

Thither my weak and weary feet are tending- 
Saviour and Lord, with Thy frail child abide ; 
Guide me toward home, where, all my wanderingg 
ended, 

1 then shall see Thee and " be satisfied 1" 



JESUS, I AM NEVER WEARY. 

JESUS, I am never weary, 
When upon this bed of pain ; 
If Thy presence only cheer me, 
All ray loss I count but gain : 

Evtir near me. 
Ever near me. Lord, remain ! 

Dear ones come with fruits and flowers, 
Thus to cheer my heart the while. 



178 J ES a 8, 1 AM NEVER WEARY. 



lu these deeply anxious hours ; 
Oh ! if Jesus only smile ! - 

Only Jesus 
Can these troubling fears beguile. 

All my sins were laid upon Tliee, 
All my griefs were on Thee laid ; 

For the blood of Thine atonement 
All my utmost debts has paid : 

Dearest Saviour ! 
I believe, for Thou hast said. 

Dearest Saviom' ! go not from me ; 

Let Thy i)resence still abide ; 
Look in tenderest love upon me — 

I am sheltering at Thy side, 
Dearest Saviour 1 

Whc for suffering sinners died. 

Both mine arms are elasped around Thcc, 
And my liead is on Thy breast ; 

For my weary soul has tound Thee 
Such a perfect, 2^<^Kf^(^^' ^'^st. 

Dearest Saviour ! 
Now I know that I am blest. 



W£ SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS \ 'f9 



WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS, 

VTOT as He T\'as, a liouseless stranger, 
1 » With no home to shield His head ; 
Not as seen in Bethlehem's manger, 
Where the horned oxen tod ; — 

Not as in the Garden groaning, 
Plunged in deep, mysterious woe, 

All the guilt of man bemoaning. 

While the precious blood-sweats flow 

Not as seen on Calvary's mountain. 
Where He oifered up His soul, 

Opening wide that sacred Fountain, 
Wliich alone can make us whole ; — 

Not as He was, a pale and breathless 
Captive in the shades beneath, — 

But as He is. Immortal, Deathless, 
Conqueror o er the powers of death I 

Yes ! we shall see Him in our nature, 
Seated on His lofty Throoe— 

Loved, adored by every creature — 
Owned as God, and God alone 1 



180 CONTENTMENT. 



Tliero countlesa hosts of sinning spirits 
Strike their harps, and loudly sing 

To the praise of Jesus' merits, 
To the glory of their King I 

When we pass o'er death's dark river, 
We shall see Ilim as He is — 

Resting in His love and favor, 
Owning all the gloiy His. 

There to cast our crowns before Him — 
Oh, what bliss the thought aiVords I 

There forever to adore Him — 

King of kings and Lord of lords 1 



CONTENTMENT 

BE thou content ; be still before 
His face, at whose right hand doth reign 
Fullness of joy for evermore, 

AVithout whom all thy toil is vain : 
He Ls thy living spring, thy sun, whose rays 
Make glad with life and light thy dreary days. 
13e thou content. 

In Him is comfoi*t, light, and grace, 

And changeless love beyond our thought; 

The sorest pang, the worst disgrace. 
If He is there, shall hann thee not. 



RA VE FAITH IN GOD. 181 



lie can lift off tliy'crosB, and loose thy bands, 
And calm thy tears • nay, death is in Ilis hands : 
Be thou content. 

Or art thou friendless and alone, 

J last none in whom thou canst confide ? 

God carcth for thee, lonely one — 
Comfort and help He will provide. 

lie sees thy sf>rrows, and thy hidden griof, 

He knoweth when to send thee quick relief: 
Be thou content. 

Thy heart's unspoken pain He knows, 
Thy secret sighs He hears full well ; 

What to none elne thou dur'st disclose, 
To Ilira thou may'st with bokhiess telU 

Ue is not far away, but ever nigh, 

And answereth willingly the jjoor man's cry : 
Be thou content. 



HAVE FAITH IiV GOD. 

HAVE faith in God I for He who reigns on liigh 
Hath l)ome thy grief and hears the suppU 
ant's sigh ; 
Still to His arms, thine only refuge, fly. 
Have fuith in God I 
10 



182 BREAD UPON THE WATERS. 

Fear not to call on Him, O sovil distressed ! 
Thy sorrow's wliispcr woos thee to His breajit; 
He who is offceuest there is oftonest blest. 
Have faith in God ! 

Lean Jot on Egypt's reeds ; slake not thy thirst 
At earthly cisterns. Seek the kingdom first. 
Though man and Satan fright thee with theli 
worst, 

Have faith in Crod 1 

Go 1 te.Il Him all 1 The sigh thy bosom heaves 
Is heard ia heiwen. Strength and grace He givea, 
Who gave Himself for thee. Our Jesus lives. 
Have faith in God ! 



BREAD UPON THE WATERS. 

SAY not, " 'Twas all in vain," 
The anguish, and the darkness, and the strife ; 
Love thrown upon the waters comes again 
In quenchless yearnings for a nobler life. 
Think 1 In that midnight, on thy weary sight 
The stars shone forth, and 'neath their ■welcome 
rays 
Thine hopes to Heaven like birds first took their 
flight. 
And " thou shalt find them — after many days." 



BEJSAD I PON THE WATERS. 183 

. Say not, " 'Twas all i q vain," 

The vigil, and the sickness, and the tears ; 
For in that Land " vrhore there is no more pain," 

The grain is garnered from those mournful years. 
The faded lorm, once sheltered on thy breast, 

In gentle ministry thy care repays ; 
A.nd smiling on thee from her sinless rest, 

Fear not to find her — " after many days." 

Say not, " 'Twas all in vain," 

Thy tenderness, thy meekness — oh, not so 1 
A strength for others' sufferings shalt thou gain, 

As healing balms from bruised flowerets flow. 
Weep not the wealth in fearless faith cast forth 

On the dark billows shipwiecked to thy gaze; 
The bark was frail, the gem had still its worth, 

And '' thou shalt find it — after many days." 

Say not, " 'Twas all in vain," 
The watching, and the waiting, and the prayer ; 
In pierced hands hath it unassumed lain ; 

'Twill grow more radiant as it lingereth there. 
'Tis space— where once thy quivering form waa 
cast. 
Thy heart- wrung sobs no floating breeze betrays , 
Yet, 'mid the white-winged choir thy prayer hath 
passed. 
And " thou shalt find it— after many days.'' 



184 REST FOR THE WEART. 

Say not, '' 'Twas all in vain," 

The patience, and the pity, and the word 
En warning breathed 'mid passion's hurricane, 

Unheeded here — but God that whisper heard, 
The tender grief, o'er strangers' sorrow shed, 

The sacrifice that won no human praise. 
In faith upon the waters cast thy Bread, 

For " thou shalt find it — after many days.'^ 



JiJSST FOR THE WEARY. 

"VrOT long, not long I The spirit-wasting fever 
jA Of this strange life shall quit each thi'obbing 

vein ; 
And this wild pulse flow placidly forever ; 
And endless peace relieve the burning brain. 

Earth's joys are but a dream ; its destiny 
Is but decay and death. Its fairest form 

Sunshine and shadow mixed. Its brightest day 
A rainbow braided on the wreaths of storm. 

Yet there is blessedness that changeth not ; 

A rest with God, a life that cannot die ; 
A better portion, and a brighter lot ; 

A home with Christ, a heritage on high. 



THE OFFEEIXG. 185 



Hope for the hopeless, for the weary rest, 
More gentle tlian the stiU repose of even I 

Joy for the joyless, bliss for the unblest ; 
Homes for the desolate in yonder heaven. 

The tempest makes returning calm more dear ; 

The darkest midnight makes the brightest star ; 
Even so to us, when all is ended here, 

ShaU be the past, remembered from afar. 

Then welcome change and death! since these 
alone 

Can break life's fetters, and dissolve its spell ; 
Welcome all present change, which speeds us on 

So swift to that which is unchangeable. 



THE OFFERING. 

VrO more my own. Lord Jesus ; 
JN Bought with Thy precious Blood, 
I give Thee but Thine own. Lord, 
That long Thy love withstood. 

I give the life Thou gavest, 

My present, future, past ; 
My joys, my fears, my sorrows, 

My first hope and my last. 
16* 



ISO ^^^ OFFERING. 



I give Thee up my weakness^ 
That oft distrust liath bred, 

'Iliat Thy indwelling power 
May thus be perfected. 

I giye the loye the sweetest 
Thy goodness grants to me ; 

Take it, and make it meet, Lord, 
For offering to Thee. 

Smile ! and the very shadows 
In Thy blest light shall shine ; 

Take Thou my heart. Lord JesuS; 
For Thou hast made it Thine. 

Thou know'st my soul's ambition, 
For Thou liast changed its aim ; 

(The world's reproach I fear not,) 
To share a Saviour's shame ; 

Outside the camp to suffer ; 

Within the Vail to meet, 
And hear Thy softest whisper 

From out the Mercy-seat. 

Thou bear'st me on Thy bosom» 
Amidst Thy jewels worn, 

Upon Thy hands deep graven, 
By arms of love upborne. 



HOLD ON, HOLD IN, HOLD OUT. 187 



Rescued from sin's destruction, 
Ransomed from death and liell ; 

Complete in Thee, Lord Jesus : 
Thou hast done all things well ! 

Oh, deathless love that bought me 1 
Oh, price beyond my ken 1 

Oh, Life, that hides my own life 
E'en from my fellow-men I 

Now fashion, form, and fill me 
With light and love Divine ; 

So, ONE with Thee, Lord Jesus, 
I'm Thine — forever Thine ! 



HOLD ON, HOLD LN, HOLD OUT. 

HOLD on, my heart, in thy believing ! 
The steadfast only wins the crown. 
He who, when stormy waves are heaving, 
Parts with his anchor, shall go down ; 
But he who Jesus holds through all, 
Shall stand, though heaven and earth shall fall 

Hold hi thy murmurs, heaven arraigning I 
The patient see God's loving face : 

Who bear their burdens uncomplaining, 
'Tis they that win the Father's grace ; 



188 CtO TELL JESdS. 



He wouuds "himself wlio beara the rod, 
And sets Mmself to figlit with God. 



Hold out ! There comes an end to sorrow : 
Hope from the dust shall conquering rise ; 

The storm foretells a sunnier morrow ; 
The Cross points on to Paradise. 

The Father reigneth ; cease all doubt ; 

Hold on, my heart, hold in, hold out I 



GO TELL JESUS. 

BURY thy sorrow. 
The world has its share 
Bury it deeply, 
Hide it with care. 



Think of it calmly 

When curtained by night, 
Tell it to Jesus, 

And all will be right. 

Tell it to Jesus, 

He kuoweth thy grief ; 
Tell it to Jesus, 

He'll send thee relict^ 



A FSALM FOR NEW TEAR'S EVK 189 



Gather tlie sunlight 
Aglow on thy way ; 

Gather the moonbeams, 
Each soft silver ray. 

Hearts grown aweary 
With heavier woe, 

Droop 'mid the darkness- 
Go comfort them, go I 

Bury thy sorrow. 
Let others be blest ; 

Give them the sunshine, 
Tell Jesus the rest. 



A PSALM FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE 

A FRIEND stands at the door ; 
In either tight-closed hand 
Hiding nch gifts, three hundred and three-sore; 

Waiting to strew them daily o'er the land 
Even as seed the sower. 
Each drop he treads it in and passes by : 
It cannot be made fruitful till it die. 

Oh, good New Year, we clasp 
TM3 warm shut hand of thine \ 



190 ^ PSALM FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE. 

Loosing forever, witli lialf-sigh, half-grasp, 

That which from ours falls like dead lingers' 
twine : 

Ay, whether fierce its grasp 

Has been, or gentle, having been, we tnow 
That it was blessed ; let the Old Year go. 

Oh, New Year, teach us faith ! 

The road of life is hard ; 
When our feet bleed, and scourging winds ua 
scathe. 
Point thou to Him whose visage was more 
marred 
Than any man's ; who saith 

" Make straight paths for your feet — " and to 

the opprest — 
" Come ye to Me, and I will give you rest." 

Yet hang some lamp-like hope 

Above this unknown way. 
Kind year, to give our spirits freer scope, 

And our hands strength to work while it is day 
But if that way must slope 

Tombward, oh, bring before our fading eyes 

The lamp of life, the Hope that never dies I 

Comfort our souls with love, — 
Love of all human kind : 



THE CELESTIAL COUNTRY. IQI 



Love special, close — in which like sheltered dove 
Each weary heart its own safe nest may find ; 

And love that turns above 

Adoiingly : contented to resign 

All loves, if need be, for the Love Divine. 

Friend, come thou like a friend, 

And whether bright thy face. 
Or dim with clouds we cannot comprehend, — 

We'll hold our patient hands, each in his place, 
And trust thee to the end ; 

Knowing thou leadest onwards to those spheres 

Where there are neither days, nor months, noi 
years. 



THE CELESTIAL COUNTKY. 

THE world is very evil ! 
The times are waxing late : 
Be sober, and keep vigil ; 

The Judge is at the gate : 
The Judge That comes m mercy. 

The Judge that comes with miglit, 
To terminate the evil, 

To diadem the right. 
When the just and gentle Monarch 

Shall summon from the tomb, 



192 THE CELESTIAL COUNTRY, 



Let man, the guilty, tremble, 

For Man, the God, shall doom. 
Arise, arise, good Christian, 

Let right to wrong succeed ; 
Let penitential sorrow 

To heavenly gladness lead ; 
To the light that hath no eYenia<r. 

That knows nor moon nor sun 
The light so new and golden, 

The light that is but one. 
And when the Sole-Begotten 

Shall render up once more 
The kingdom to the Father 

Whose own it was before, — 
Then glory yet unheard of 

Shall shed abroad its ray, 
Resolving all enigmas. 

An endless Sabbath-day. 
Then, then from his oppressors 

The Hebrew shall go free, 
And celebrate in triumph 

The year of Jubilee ; 
And the sunlit Land that recks not 

Of tempest nor of fight, 
Shall fold within its bosom 

Each happy Israelite : 
The Home of fadeless splendor, 

Of flowers that fear no tnom, 



THE CELESTIAL COUNTRY. 393 

Where they shall dwell as children, 

Who here as exiles mourn. 
Midst power that knows no limit, 

And wisdom free from bound, 
The Beatific Vision 

Shall glad the Saints around : 
The peace of all the faithful. 

The calm of all the blest, 
Inviolate, unvaried, 

Divinest, sweetest, best. 
Yes, i)eace ! for war is needless, — 

Yes, calm ! for storm is past, — 
And goal from finished labor, 

And anchorage at last. 
That peace — but who may claim it? 

The guileless in their way. 
Who keep the ranks of battle, 

Who mean the thing they say : 
The peace that is for heaven, 

And shall be for the earth : 
The palace that re-echoes 

With festal song and mirth ; 
The garden, breathing spices. 

The paradise on high : 
Grace beautified to glory, 

Unceasing minstrelsy. 
There nothing can be feeble. 

There none can ever mourn, 
17 



]94 TEE CELESTIAL COUNTRY 

There nothing is divided, 

Tliere nothing can be torn : 
'Tis fury, ill, and scandal, 

'Tis peaceless peace below ; 
Peace, endless, strifeless, ageless, 

The halls of Syon know : 
O happy, holy portion, 

Refection for the blest • 
True vision of true beauty, 

Sweet cure of all distress ! 
Strive, man, to win that glory ; 

Toil, man, to gain that light ; 
Send hope before to grasp it, 

Till hope be lost in sight : 
Till Jesus gives the portion 

Those blessed souls to fill, 
The insatiate, yet satisfied, 

The full, yet craving still. 
That fullness and that craving 

Alike are free from pain, 
Where thou, midst heavenly citizent^, 

A home like theirs shalt gairu 
Ilere is the warlike trumpet ; 

There, life set free from sin ; 
When to the last Great Supper 

The faithful shall come in : 
When the heavenly net is laden 

With fishes many and great ; 



THE CELESTIAL COUNTRY. 195 

So glorious in its fullness, 

Yet so inviolate : 
And the j^erfect from the shattered, 

And the fall'n from them that stand, 
And the sheep-flock from the goat-herd 

Shall part on either hand : 
And these shall pass to torment, 

And those shall triumph, then ; 
The new peculiar nation. 

Blest number of blest men. 
Jerusalem demands them : 

They paid the price on earth, 
And now shall reap the harvest 

In blissfulness and mirth : 
The glorious holy people, 

Who evermore relied 
Upon their Chief and Father, 

The King, the Crucified : 
The sacred ransomed number 

Now bright with endless sheen. 
Who made the Cross their watch- word 

Of Jesus Nazarene : 
Who, fed with heavenly nectar. 

Where foul-like odors play. 
Draw out the endless leisure 

Of that long vernal day : 
And through the sacred lilies, 

And flowers on every side, 



196 TEE CELESTIAL COUNTRY. 



The happy dear-bought people 

Go wandering far and wide. 
Their breasts are filled with gladness, 

Their mouths are tuned to praise, 
What time, now safe forever, 

On former sins they gaze : 
The fouler was the error, 

The sadder was the fall, 
The ampler are the praises 

Of Him Who pardoned all. 
Their one and only anthem. 

The fullness of His love. 
Who gives, instead of torment. 

Eternal joys above : 
Instead of torment, gloiy ; 

Instead of death, that life 
Wherewith your happy Country, 

True Israelties 1 is rife. 

Brief life is here our portion ; 

Brief sorrow, short-lived care 
The life that knows no ending 

The tearless life, is there. 
O happy retribution ! 

Short toil, eternal rest ; 
For mortals and for sinners 

A mansion with the blest ! 
That we should look, poor wand'reis, 



THE CELESTIAL COUNTRY. 197 

To have our home on higli ! 
That woiTus should seek for dwellings 

Beyond the starry sky 1 
To all one happy guerdon 

Of one celestial grace ; 
For all, for all, who mourn their fall, 

Is one eternal place : 
And martyrdom hath roses 

Upon that heavenly ground : 
And white and virgin lilies 

For virgin-souls abound. 
There grief is turned to pleasure ; 

Such pleasure, as below 
Ko human voice can utter, 

No human heart can kno^ • 
And after fleshly scandal. 

And after this world's night. 
And after storm and whirlwind, 

Is calm, and joy, and light. 
And now we fight the battle. 

But then shall wear the crown 
Of full and everlasting 

And passionless renown : 
And now we watch and struggle, 

And now we live in hope, 
And ByoE, in her anguish, 

With Babylon must cope : 

But He "WTiom now we trust in 

17* 



198 THE CELESTIAL COUNTRY. 



Shall tlien be seen aud known, 
And they that know and see Him 

Shall have Him for their own. 
The miserable pleasures 

Of the body shall decay : 
The bland and flattering struggles 

Of the flesh shall pass away : 
And none shall there be jealous ; 

And none shall there contend : 
Fraud, clamor, guile — what say I ? 

All ill, all ill shall end ! 
And there is David's Fountain, 

And life in fullest glow, 
And there the light is golden, 

And milk and honey flow : 
The light that hath no evening, 

The health that hath no sore, 
The life that hath no ending. 
But lasteth evermore. 

There Jesus shall embrace us, 

There .lEsrs be embraced, — 
That spirit's food and sunshine 

Whence earthly love is chayed. 
Amidst the happy chorus, 

A place, however low, 
Bhall show Him us, and, showing, 

Shall satiate CYermo. 



THE CELESTIAL COUA'TRY. ' 199 

By hope we struggle onward. 

While liere we must be fed 
By milk, as tender infants, 

But there by Living Bread. 
The night was full of terror, 

The morn is bright with gladness 
The Cross becomes our harbor, 

And we triumph after sadness : 
And Jesus to His true ones 

Brings trophies fair to see : 
And Jesus shall be loyed, and 

Beheld in Galilee : 
Beheld, when morn shall waken, 

And shadows shall decay. 
And each true-hearted servant 

Shall shine as doth the day : 
And every ear shall hear it ;- - 

Behold thy King's array : 
Behold thy God in beauty, 

The Law hath past away I 
Yes ! God my King and Portion, 

In fullness of His grace, 
We then shall see forever. 

And worship face to face. 
Then Jaco]) into Israel, 

From earthlier self estranged, 
And Leah into Rachel 

Forever shall be changed : 



200 • THE CELESTIAL COUNTRY, 



Then all tlie halls of Syon 
For aye sliall be complete, 

And, in the Land of Beauty 
All tilings of beauty meet. 

For tliee, dear, dear Country ! 

Mine eyes tlieir vigils keep ; 
For very love, beholding 

Thy happy name, they weep : 
Tlie mention of thy gloi-y ^ 

Is unction to the breast, 
And medicine in sickness, 

And love, and life, and rest. 
O one, O oncly Mansion 1 

O Paradise of Joy ! 
Where tears are ever banished, 

And smiles have no alloy ; 
Beside thy living waters 

All plants are, great and small, 
The cedar of the forest, 

The hyssop of the wall : 
With jaspers glow thy bulwarks; 

Thy streets vrith emeralds blaze ; 
The sardius and the topaz 

Unite in thee their rays : 
Thine ageless walls are bonded 

"With amethyst unpriced : 



THE CELESTIAL COUNTRY. 201 



Thy Saints build up its fabric, 

And tlie corner-stone is Christ. 
Tbe Cross is all tby splendor, 

The Crucified tliy praise : 
His laud and benediction 

Thy ransomed people raise : 
Jesus, the Gem of Beauty, 

True God and Man, they sing : 
The never-failing Garden, 

The eyer-golden Ring : 
The Door, the Pledge, the Husband, 

The Guardian of his Court : 
The Day-star of Salvation, 

The Porter and the Port. 
Thou hast no shore, fair ocean ! 

Thou hast no time, bright day \ 
Dear fountain of refreshment 

To pilgrims far away I 
Upon the Rock of Ages 

They raise thy holy tower : 
Thine is the victor's laurel. 

And thine the golden dower : 
Thou feel'st in mystic rapture, 

O Bride that know'st no guile, 
Tlie Prince's sweetest kisses. 

The Prince's loveliest smile ; 
Unfading lilies, bracelets 

Of living pearl thine own ; 



202 ^^^ CELESTIAL COUNTRY, 



The Lamb is ever near thee, 

The Bridegroom thine alone ; 
The Crown is He to guerdon, 

The Buckler to protect, 
And He Himself the Mansion 

And He the Architect. 
The only art thou needest, 

Thanksgiving for thy lot : 
,The only joy thou seekest, 

The Life where Death is not 
And all thine endless leisure 

Tn sweetest accents sings, 
The ill that was thy merit, — 

The wealth that is thy King's ! 

Jerusalem the golden, 

With milk and honey blest, 
Beneath thy contemplation 

Sink heart and voice oppressed : 
I know not, O I know not. 

What social joys are there ; 
What radiancy of glory, 

What light beyond compare I 
And when I lain would sing them, 

My spirit fails and faints ; 
AJid vainly would it image 

The assembly of the Saints. 
They stand, those halls of Syon, 



THE CELESTIAL COUNTRY. 203 



Conjubilant with song, 
And bright with many an angel, 

And all the martyr throng : 
The Prince is ever in them ; 

The daylight is serene ; 
The pastures of the Blessed 

Are decked in glorious sheen. 
There is the throne of David, — 

And there, from care released, 
The song of them that triumph, 

The shout of them that feast : 
And they who, with their Leader, 

Have conquered in the fight, 
Forever and forever 

Aj'e clad in robes of white 1 

O holy, placid harp-notes 

Of that eternal hymn 1 
O sacred, sweet refection. 

And peace of Seraphim ! 
O thirst, forever ardent, 

Yet evermore content I 
O true peculiar vision 

Of God cunctipotent 1 
Ye know the many mansions 

For many a glorious name, 
And divers retributions 

That divers merits claim : 



204 ^-^^ CELESTIAL COUNTRY. 



For midst the constellations 
That deck our eai'thly sky, 

This star than that is brighter, — 
And so it is on hiijh. 



Jerusalem the glorious ! 

The glory of th' Elect I 
dear and future vision 

That eager hearts ex]3ect ; 
Even now by faith I see thee ; 

Even here thy walls discern : 
To thee my thoughts are kindled, 

And strive and pant and yearn : 
Jerusalem the onely, 

That look'st from heaven belaw; 
In thee is all my glory ; 

In me is all my ^noq, : 
And though my body may not, 

My spirit seeks thee fain, 
Till flesh and earth return me 

To earth and flesh again. 
O none can tell thy bulwarks, 

How gloriously they rise : 
O none ca]i tell thy capitals 

Of beautiful device : 
Thy loveliness oppresses 

All human thought and heart : 



TEE CELESTIAL COUNTRY 205 

A.nd none, O peace, O Syon, 

Can sinaj thee as tliou art, 
Kew mansion of new peoj^le. 

Whom God's own love and liglit 
Promote, increase, make Iioly, 

Identify, unite. 
Thou City of the Angels 1 

Thou City of the Lord ! 
Whose everlasting music 

Is the glorious decachord !* 
And there the band of Prophets 

United praise ascribes, 
And there the twelve-fold chorus 

Of Israel's ransomed tribes : 
The lily-beds of virgins, 

The roses' martyr-glow, 
The cohort of the Fathers 

Who kept the faith below. 
And there the Sole-Begotten 

Is LoKD in regal state ; 
He, Judah's mystic Lion, 

He, Lamb Immaculate. 
O fields that know no sorrow I 

O state that fears no strife 1 

♦ Decachord. Willi reference to the mystical eijplanatlon, 
which, seeing in the number ten a type of perfection, under- 
tanda the "instrument of ten strings" of the perfect harmony 
of heaven. 



206 THE CELESTIAL COUNTRY, 



O princely bow'rs ! O land of flow'rs I 
O realm and home of life I 



Jerusalem, exulting 

On that securest shore, 
I hope thee, wish thee, sing thee, 

And love thee evermore I 
I ask not for my merit : 

I seek not to deny 
My merit is destruction, 

A child of vrrath am I : 
But yet with Faith I venture 

And Hope uf)on my way ; 
For those perennial guerdons 

I labor night and day. 
The Best and Dearest Father 

Who made me and Who saved. 
Bore with me in defilement, 

And from defilement laved : 
When in His strength I struggle, 

For very joy I leap. 
When in my sin I totter, 

I weep, or try to weep : 
And grace, sweet grace celestial. 

Shall all its love display. 
And David's Royal Fountain 

Purge every sin away. 



TEE CELESTIAL COUNTRY. 207 



O mine, my golden Syon I 
O lovelier far than gold I 

VV^ith laurel-girt battalions, 
And safe victorious fold : 

O sweet and blessed Country, 
Shall I ever see thy face ? 

sweet and blessed Country, 
Shall I ever win thy grace ? 

1 have the hope within me 
To comfort and to bless ! 

Shall I ever win the prize itself? 
O tell me, tell me, Yes I 

Exult, O dust and ashes 1 

The Lord shall be thy part : 
His only. His forever. 

Thou shalt be, and thou art I 
Exult, O dust and ashes 1 

The Lord shall be thy part : 
His only, His forever, 

Thou shalt he, and thou art I 



208 TAKE HEART OF GRACE. 



''TAKE HEART OF GRACES 

On, thou ! who tossing on life's troubled ocean^ 
Mournest the hidings of thy Father's face, 
A rid comfortless, amid the wild commotion, 
Seekest in vain some quiet resting-place ; 
Thou weary, fainting soul ! " take heart of 
grace." 

Look up ! when storms of woe are round thee 
sweeping, 
Learn thou in all thy Saviour's hand to trace : 
Above the storm, behind the dark clouds, keeping 
Ceaseless watch o'er thee, beams my loving face ; 
Therefore, thou faithless one 1 take heart of 
grace. 

Not all the fiercest tempests round thee blowing, 
Can drive thee far from heaven's sweet resting- 
place ; 

Not all the floods thy sorrowing soul o'erflowing, 
Can long avail to hide from thee my face ; 
Therefore, downcast soul I take heart of grace. 

Oh, waste no more thy breath in weak complain- 
ing 1 
Doubts throw aside 1 No longer thus disgrace 
My faithful love that leading, guiding, training, 



TAKE HEART OF GRACE. 209 



Perfects .thee thus for my own dwelling-place. 
O thou rebellious soul I take heart of grace. 

Hast thou not seen how, for some precious treasure, 
Men beat of purest gold, a goodly case ? 

Or cut for fragrant odors, at their pleasure. 
Out of rough stoue, a rare and polished vase ? 
O thou short-sighted one I take heart of grace. 

Like them, when for myself I am preparing 
Out of the soul, a fit abiding-place ; 

I hew thee, beat thee, till I see thee bearing 
My image ; and my perfect likeness trace ; 
Therefore, thou chosen one ! take heart of grace. 

Oh then, be of good courage ! for I love thee ; 

Gladly and cheerfully each cross embrace, 
And bear it manfully ; for soon above thee, 

Light from my throne each cloud away shall 
chase ; 

Therefore, afflicted one I take heart of grace. 

And soon life's sorest trials passed forever, 
Faultless before thy and my Father's face, 

I will present thee joyfully ; and never 
Need to say to thee, in that resting-place, 
O weary, fainting soul ! take heart of grace. 



210 BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US. 



For GTery hour of tliat blest life immortal, 
Thou shalt be glad my guiding hand to trace, 

That made thee meet, by trials, through the portaJ 
To enter in, and redt in my embrace ; 
Therefore, look upward! and take heaii; of 
ffrace. 



BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US. 

I LOVE Thee, O my God ! but not 
For what I hope thereby. 
Nor yet because who love Thee not 

Must die eternally. 
I loye Thee, O my God I and still 

I ever will love Thee, 
Solely because, my God, Thou art 
Who first hast lov^d me 1 

For me, to lowest depths of woe 

Thou didst Thyself abase ; 
For me didst bear the cross, the shame, 

And manifold disgrace ; 
For me didst sufi'er pains unknown. 

Blood-sweat and agony. 
Yea, death itself— all, all for me 1 

For me, Thine enemy i 



^IGK AND IN PRISON. 2 1 1 

Then shall I not, O Saviour, mine I 

Shall I not love Thee well ? 
Not with the hope of winning heaven, 

Nor of escaping hell ; 
Not with the ho]3e of earning aught, 

Nor seeking a reward ; 
But freely, fully, as Thyself 

Hast lovgd me, O Lord 1 



SICK AND IN PRISON. 

WILDLY falls the night around me. 
Chains I cannot break have bound mc 
Spirits unrebuked, undriven 
From before me darken Heaven ; 
Creeds bewilder, and the saying 
Unfelt prayer makes need of praj-dng. 

In this bitter anguish lying 

Only Thou wilt hear my crying — 

Thou whose hands wash white the emng, 

As the wool is at the shearing. 

Not with dulcimer or psalter, 

But with tears, I seek Thine altar. 



2 1 2 SICK AND IN PRISON. 



Feet, tliat trod the raouut so weary, 
Eyes, that pitying looked on Mary, 
Hands, that brought a Father's blessing, 
Heads of little children pressing ; 
Voice, that said, " Behold thy Mother," 
Lo ! I seek ye, and none other. 

Look. O gentlest eye of pity, 
Out ot Zion, glorious city 1 
Speak, O voice of mercy, sweetly ! 
Hide me, hands of love, completely. 
Sick, in prison, lying lonely, 
Ye can lift me up — Ye only. 

In my hot brow soothe the aching. 
In my sad heart stay the breaking ; 
On my lips, the murmurs trembling 
Change to praises undissembling ; 
Make me raise as th' evangels. 
Clothe me with the wings of angels. 

Power, that made the few loaves many, 
Power, that blessed the wine at Cana, 
Power, that said to Lazarus " waken," 
Leave, oh, leave me not forsaken. 
Sick, and hungry, and in prison, 
Save me, Crucified and Risen 1 



■"^A ONE WHOM HIS MOTHER C0MT'0RTETH."2\'^ 

*'AS ONE WHOM HIS MOTHER COM- 
FORTElUir 



comfort you," as when a sobbing 



^i n Tvill I 

U child 

Seeks sweet heart-comfort on its mother's breast ; 
By her caresses fond unconsciously beguiled 

From memories of pain, soon sinks to rest. 

" Ye shall be comforted." Our hearts are faint 
and sore. 
We would be little children once again ; 
But childhood would bring back the griefs wa 
knew of yore, 
But not the mother who caressed us then. 

We need a stronger love, we seek a deeper rest, 
Whose type and earnest we once knew in this ; 

Tlie nestling of the child upon its mother's breast, 
The sweet dreams won us by her " good-night " 
kiss. 

Lord 1 grant us restful sleep, untroubled, sweet 
and calm, 

Not fitful slumbers 'mid Life's fevered dream ; 
Oh, seal our weary eyelids with thy touch of balm 

Not to re-ope until the Great Day's gleam. 



214"^^ Ol^E WHOM Hm MOTHER COMFORTETW 



And yet we are such cliildren, foolish, weak and 
blind, 
That while we long for sleep, thy gentle hand 
May change the calming cup, and far more wise 
and kind, 
GiA'e needed bitterness with this command : 



" Drink, child 1" Thy Father's love shall make the 
unsought draught 
Sweet to thy soul, though bitter to thy lips. 
Think, how for thee, thy sinless Elder Brother 
quaffed 
The cup thou filled'st, 'neath my love's eclipse. 

Ah, Father 1 whatsoe'er thy children truly need 
Thou givest, not whatever they implore. 

And oft we grieving think, Thy mercy gives no 
heed 
To our rash pleadings, when our hearts are sore. 

But when the long sad lesson we have learned at 
length. 
And with unmurmuring meekness we receive 
The cup, whose bitter draught gives new and 
mighty strength, 
We own Thy wise true love, and no more grieve ; 



* AS ONE WHOM BIS MOTHER C0MF0RTETH:'2\b 



But rest in patient hope, although Thou lang "with- 
hold 
The chalice. Death and Life bnmmed, chris- 
mal seal 
Of conquest at whose touch the pearly gates un- 
fold, 
And Heaven's high glories to the soul reveal. 

We only wait as minors, till the glad birth-day 
Shall crown us kings before our Father's throne. 

As princely exiles here, we struggle, toil, and pray, 
With eyes by watching very weary grown. 

For comfortless, aye, orphan'd, Thou dost never 
make 
Thy children. Trusting hearts are kept in peace, 
And when our night-time comes, Thou'lt bid ua 
sleep to wake 
Where every sob is hushed and sorrows cease. 



216 MART. 



31 A R T . 

THE box is not of stainless alabaster 
Which o'er thy feet I break ; 
Nor filled with costly ointment, gracious Master, 
Poured for Thy sake. 

Nay, rather is it shapen in this fashion — 

A living heart. 
Dashed all across with scarlet stains of passion, 

And broke in part ; 

While from its open wound comes softly dripping, 

Like slow tears shed. 
Or heavy drojjs, along thy footstool slipp'ng, 

Its life-blood red. 

It needs no balm of myrrh for sweet or bitter, 

But life and love ; 
The sad conditions make mine offering fitter 

Thy heart to move. 

From all these claims or cruel wrong and anguish, 

This load of grief 
Wherewith my soul doth pant, and mourn, and lan- 

Give me relief! [guish, 



EVENING. 217 



In thy far liome is not thy soul still tender 

For mortal woe ? 
Ilear'st thou not still, amid that spotless splendor 

That seraphs know ? 

O, turn thy human eyes from heavenly glory ! 

Say, as before, 
Those tenderest words of all thy Gospel story : 

" Go, sin no more !" 



EVENING. 

r\ ENTLY the dew falls on the grass, 
VX The winds are hushed to rest, 
And softly sinks the crescent moon, 
Adown the quiet west. 

And one by one, as shadows fall. 

The stars come out on high, 
Till in full brightness spreads unveiled, 
~ The glory of the sky, 

I sit upon the summer hills. 

Far from the noisy throng. 
And hear the modest night-bird sing 

Her low and plaintive song. 



The little streamlets bright and clear, 
Go singing on their way, 
19 



218 ETENJNO. 



While countless insect voices weave 
Their never-ending lay. 

God, in such an hour as this, 
How yearns the soul to know 

The mysteries of the heavens above 
And of the earth below ! 

An atom in the boundless whole, 
A speck upon the air, 

1 seem as one engulfed and lost, ' 
Without a Father's care. 

My life I draw, I know not how, 
From the mysterious past ; 

Before me stretches all unknown 
A future strange and vast. 

What part have I in this wide realm ? 

What place have I to fill ? 
Or can the smallest issue hang 

Upon my wavering will ? 

Yet folded in these shades of night, 

My busy thoughts arise, 
To range afar the fields of earth, 

And wander throusfh the skies. 



HIS WATS. 219 



Is there a hand that reaches clowm 

From out this vast unknown ? 
Is there a love that beckons me 

To the eternal throne ? 

I ask the silent stars above, 

As men have asked of old, 
No voice comes from them, as they look, 

On mountains still and cold. 

The entrance of Thy Word, O God ! 

Alone can break this night, 
And shed o'er all the way I go, 

A clear and living light. 

By faith, I take that blessed Word 

And follow at its call ; 
The God who made the heavens and earth, 

Can see and know them all. 



EIS WA YS. 

I ASKED for grace to lift me high. 
Above the world's depressing cares ; 
God sent me sorrows — with a sigh 
I said, He has not heard my prayers. 



220 SIS WAYS. 



I asked for light, that I might see 

My path along life's thorny road ; 
But clouds and darkness shadowed me 

When I expected light from God. 

I asked for peace, that I might rest 

To think my sacred duties o'er, 
When lo ! such horrors filled my breast 

As I had never felt before. 

And O, I cried, can this be prayer 

Whose plaints the steadfast mountains move ? 
Can this be Heaven's prevailing care ; 

And, O my God, is this Thy love ? 

But soon I found that sorrow, worn 
As Duty's garment, strength supplies, 

And out of darkness meekly borne 
Unto the righteous light doth rise. 

And soon I found that fears which stirr'd 

My startled soul God's will to do, 
On me more real peace conferr'd 

Than in life's calm I ever knew. 

Then, Lord, in Thy mysterious ways 

Lead my dependent spirit on. 
And whensoe'er it kneels and prays, 

Teach it to say, " Thy will be done !" 



JJV TEE EARYEST FIELD. 221 



Let its one thought, one hope, one prayer, 
Thine image seek — Thy glory see ; 

Let every other wish and care 
Be left confidingly to Thee ! 



STRENGTH FOR THE DAT. 

STRENGTH for the day ! At early dawn I stand, 
Helpless and weak, and with unrested eyes, 
Watching for day. Before its portal lies 
A low black cloud — a heavy iron band : 
Slowly the mist is lifted from the land, 
And pearl and amber gleam across the skies, 
Gladdening my upward gaze with sweet surprise ! 
I own the sign : I know that He whose hand 

Hath fringed those sombre clouds with ruby ray. 
And changed that iron bar to molten gold, 

Will to my wandering steps be guide and stay — 
Breathe o'er my wavering heart His rest for aye. 
And give my waiting, folded palms to hold 

His blessed morning boon — strength for the day ^ 



IN THE HARVEST FIELD. 

p LORY to Him who bids the field 
VX Its blessing to our toil to yield. 
Who giveth much, who giveth more, 
19* 



333 IN THE HARVEST TIELD. 



Till store and basket runneth o'er ; 
Thus, ere the golden skies grow dim, 
Come, let us sing our Harvest hymn. 

His finger on the land doth lay 
Its beauty, stretching far away ; 
His breath doth fill the opal skies 
With grandeur dread to mortal eyes ; 
He gives man harvest from the wild, 
And drops the daisies for the child. 

But oh, how shall we dare draw near ? 
Such power is veiled in mists of fear, 
What can we be to One who fills 
The awful silence of the hills, 
Who knows the secrets of the sea, 
The wild beasts in the forests free ? 

But, Lord, we know Thee otherwise — 
A slighted man, with loving eyes, 
Toiling along with weary feet 
Such paths as these among the wheat ; 
Come from the light of Heaven's throne 
To call no home on earth Thine own. 

O Lord, Thou givest bounteous spoil 
To the poor measure of our toil. 
For our few gray dark sowing days 
The glow of August's evening blaze. 



NOT AS THE WORLD QIVETH. 223 



And what can we give for the pain 
With which Thou sovv'ed immortal grain ? 

Nothing — for all we liave is Thine, 
Who need'st not corn, nor oil, nor wine ; 
Nothing — unless Thou make us meet 
To follow Thee through tares and wheat, 
And from the storm of wrath and sin 
To help Thee bring Thy harvest in. 



NOT A8 THE WORLD OIYETU. 

CLEAEER than vision of inspired dreamer ! 
Dearer than hope of glories yet to be ! 
Fall on the heart, Thy words, O blest Redeemer — 
" Not as the world giveth give I unto thee !" 

Not as the world giveth, though her fields are waving 
White with her incense-flowers, like foam uj)on the 

sea; 
Not though her singing birds their earth-born songs 

are saving 
'Till in the upper air they pour them out to Thee ; 

Not though the fair pf earth still with sweet en- 
deavor, 
Set firm white faces Against the tide of wrong ; 



224 NOT AS TEE WORLD QIYETH. 



Not though love's monotone and children's voices 

ever 
Hide in the harmonies of earth's purest song ; 

Not though Faith, victorious, seizes Earth's high 

places, 
Sets over all the steady star of Hope ; 
Not though Love that suffereth and is kind, her traces 
Leaves on the soul, that scarce with flesh can cope ; 

Not with earthly splendor, though her^ays in dying 
Lie down in blue and gold, and wrap themselves in 

flame ; 
Not though the saints of God in her still valleys 

lying, 
Write o'er their resting-places, " Hallowed be Thy 

name ;" 

Not as the world giveth, though her trees and 

grasses 
Climb her high mountains and cluster in her clouds ; 
Not as the world giveth, though her fame, that 

passes. 
Gilds with brief glory her kings in purple shrouds ; 

Not as the world giveth, though her hand be laden 
Heavy with the jewels earth still holds for man ; 
Not as the world giveth, though a man and maiden 
Know, for a moment, more than angel can. \ 



A SA ¥10 UR' S LOVE. 235 



Not such as these, that leave no sign in dying, 
Is the clear V< ice — we know it to be true — 
That through the ages to the saints is crying, 
" Not as the world giveth give I unto you." 



A SAYIOUB'8 LOVE. 

^' T OVE I Thee, Lord ? IIow^ much love I ? 

Jj Truly, Lord, I cannot tell." 
" Yet thou lov'st Me ?" " Yes, I love Thee, 
Love Thee passing, passiog well. 

" I would give all hoped-for glory, 
Gladly yield my slender all. 
To behold Thy face forever, 
At Thy blessed feet to fall. 

" Yes, I lov^e Thee as I never 

Loved upon this earth before ; 
I have loved, intensely, wildly, 
Yet, oh. Lord ! I love Thee more." 

" Try, my child, My love to measure." 

" Rising heights each height transcend." 

" Sink the plummet !" " Lord, 'tis weary, 
And it cannot find the end." 



336 RABBOm. 







BABB ONI. 



F all the niglits of most mysterious dread, 
This elded earth hath known, none matched 
in gloom 
That crucifixion night when Christ lay dead, 
— Sealed up in Joseph's tomb ! 

II. 

Ko faith that rose sublime above the pain. 
Remembered in its anguish what He said ; 

" After three days and J. shall rise again," 
— Their hopeless hearts were dead. 

ni. 

Throughout tlie ghastly " Preparation Day," 

How had that stricken mother dragged her breath ! 

— Like all of Adam born, her God-given lay 
Beneath the doom of death. 

IV. 

The prophecy she nursed through pondering years 
Of apprehension, now had found its whole 

Fulfillment, infinite beyond her fears, 
— The sword had pierced her soul ! 



MABBONl, 227 



The vebeinent tears of Peter well tuiglit flow, 
Mixed with the wormwood of repentant shame ; 

Now would he jield his life thrice told, if so 
He might confess the name 

VI. 

He had denied with curses. Fruitless were 
The keen remorses now, the gnawing smart ; 

A heavier stone than sealed the sepulchre 
Was rolled above his heart. 

VII. 

SurjM-ise and grief and baffled hopes sufficed 
To rush as seas their souls and God between ; 

Yet none of all had mourned the buried Christ, 
As Mary Magdalene. 

VIII. 

When all condemned — He bade her live again, 
When all were hard— His pity moved above 

Her penitent spirit, healed it, cleansed its stain, 
And made it j^nre with love. 

IX. 

And she had broken all her costliest store 
O'er him whose tenderness, so new, so rare, 

Stood like a strong, white angel evermore 
'Twixt her and mad despair. 



228 BABBONI. 



X. 

And He was dead ! — Her j^eace had died with him ! 

The demons who had fled at his control, 
"With sevenfold chains within their dungeons dim, 

Would henceforth bind her soul. 

XT. 

How slowly crept the Sabbath's endless week ! 

What aching vigils watched the lingering day, 
When she might stagger through the dark and seek 

The garden where He lay ! 

XII. 

And when she thrid her way to meet the dawn, 
And found the gates unbarred, — a grieving moan 

Broke from her lips — " Who," for her strength was 
" Will roll away the stone ?" [gone — 

XIII. 

She held no other thought, no hope but this ; 

To look — to touch the sacred flesh once more, — 
Handle the spices with adoring kiss, 

And help to wind him o'er 

XIV. 

With the fair linen Joseph had prepared, — 
Lift reverently the wounded hands and feet, 

And gaze, one blinded, on the features bared, 
And drink the last, most sweet, 



RABBONI. 229 



XV. 

Divine illusion of bis presence there ; 

And then, the embalming done, with one low cry 
Of utmost, unappeasable despair, 

Seek out her home and die. 

XVI. 

Lo ! the black square that showed the opened tomb ! 

She sprang — she entered unafraid — and swept 
Her arms outstretching, groping through the gloom, 

To touch Him where He slept. 

xvir. 
Her trembling fingers grasped the raiment cold, 

Pungent with aloes, lying where He lay: 
She smoothed her hands above it, fold by fold, — 

Her Lord was stolen away ! — 

xviir. 
And others came anon, who wept him sore, — 

Simon and John, the women pale and spent 
With fearful watchings ; wondering more and more, 

They questioned, gazed, — and went. 

xix. 
Nor thus did Mary. Though the lingering gloom 

Parted into brightness, and city's stir 
Came floating upward to the golden tomb, 
There was no dawn for her : 
20 



230 RABBONI. 



XX. 

No room for faintest hopes, nor utmost fears ; 

For when she sobbing stooped, and saw the twain 
White-clothen angels, through her falHng tears, 

Sit where her Lord had lain, — 

XXI. 

And ask, — " Why weepest thou V — there brake no 
cry, 

But she with deaden'd calm her answer made : 
" Because they have taken away my Lord, and I 

Know not where He is laid." 

XXII. 

— Was it a step upon the dewy grass ? 

Was it a garment rustled by the wind? 
Did some hushed breathing o'er her senses pass, 

And draw her looks behind ? 

XXIII. 

She turned and saw — the very Lord she sought — 
Jesus, the newly-risen ! . . . but no surprise 

Held her astound and rooted to the spot ; 
Her film'd and holden eyes 

XXIV. 

Had only vision for the swathed form ; 

Nor from her mantle lifted she her face, 
Nor marveled that the gardener's voice should warm 

With pity at her case ; — 



RABBONL 231 



XXV. 

Till sprang the sudden thought, "If lie should 
know :" — 

And then slie turned full quickly : " Sir, I pray 
Tell me where thou hast borne Him, that I may go, 

And take Him thence away." 

XXVI. 

The resurrection-morning's broadening blaze 
Shot up behind, and clear before her sight, 

Centered on Jesus its transfiguring rays, 
And hallowed Him with light. 

XXVII. 

'■'•Mary /" — The measureless pathos was the same 
As when her Lord had said — '' Thou art forgiven :" 

Had he, for comfort, named her by her name 
Out from the height of heaven ? 

XXVIII. 

She looked aloft — she listened, turned and gazed ; 

A revelation flashed across her brow ; 
One moment, — and slie prostrate fell, amazed, — 

" BaUbonU—It is Thou P' 



232 TO THEE! 



TO THEE! 

T BRING my sins to Thee, 
J- The sins I cannot count, 
That all may cleansed be 

In Thy once-opened fomit. 
I bring iliem, Saviour, all to Thee ; 

The burden is too great for me. 

My heart to Thee I bring, 
The heart I cannot read ; 

A faithless, wandering thing, 
An evil heart indeed. 

I bring it, Saviour, now to Thee, 

That fixed and faithful it may be. 

To Thee I bring my care, 

The care I cannot flee ; 
Thou wilt not only share, 

But take it all for me. 

loving Saviour ! now to Thee, 

1 bring the load that wearies me. 

I bring my grief to Thee, 

The grief I cannot tell ; 
No words shall needed be. 

Thou knowest all so well. 
I bring the sorrow laid on me, 
suifering Saviour ! all to Thee. 



INDWELLING. 233 



My joys to Thee I bring, 

The joys Thy love has given, 

That each may be a wing- 
To lift me nearer heaven. 

I bring them. Saviour, all to Thee, 

Who hast procured them all for me. 

My life I bring to Thee, 

I would not be my own ; 
O Saviour ! let me be 

Thine ever, Thine alone ! 
My heart, my life, my all I bring 
To Thee, my Saviour and my King. 



INDWELLING. 

IN unto me, Oh Christ, Divine One, come ! 
I'll open wide the door. Make me Thy Temple, 
home. 
Cleanse Thou each hidden chamber of my soul ; 
Cure secret sickness, — make me perfect, — whole. 
Cast out — to stay cast out — all love of sin. 
Adorn, with Thine own hand, the dwelling-place 

within. 
Let me Thy presence feel. Mine eyes Thy glory see. 
My guest, abiding guest, oh ! wilt Thou be ? 
Sx^read Thou the table ; let me sup with Thee — ■ 
Come unto me ! 
Oh, come to me ! 
20^' 



234 INDWELLING. 



Long years I've wandered in this world of woe, 
In b^^-patlis strange and devious would I go ; 
With books of learning, I liave vainly sought 
To feed my soul — to wholly live on thought, 
Till now half starved, emaciate, poor and lean, 
I find myself all naked, sick, unclean — 
Unfit at any table to appear, 

Convulsed by doubts and sore distressed by fear ; 
Yet still I need Thee, Lord, and fain would be 
Thy host and guest, from all uncleanness free : 

Come unto me ! 

Oh, come to me ! 

My heart I'll open wide. There's not a room, 
So high or low, but to it Thou shalt come, 
From attic high to cellar dark and drear. 
Where oft I've sought for peace or fled in fear ; 
Where e'en my dearest friend has ne'er been bid ; 
Where all my secret motives have been hid — 
All, all — I open wide — the house is Thine 
Within to dwell, to feast, and evermore to shine. 
Let me belong to Thee ! and be Thou mine, 
My only Guest — my Deity ! — 
Come unto me ! 
Oh, come to me. 

Henceforth I feast ; but at no cost of mine ; 
Henceforth I drink life-giving, heavenly wine ; 
Henceforth, with flowers are crowned my every cup ; 
Henceforth with Jesus as my guest I sup ; 



WAIT ON THE LORD. 235 



Ilencefortli my mind, my heart, my being whole 

Is made a glorious palace for the soul ; 

And at its table, most divinely spread, 

I feast, and feast again, on Living Bread ; — 

Nothing to hide, — there is no future dread ; 

Here, with my Friend, my Brother, Priest and King, 

Joy tills my every sense. His praises now I sing, 

And day by day, new beauties do I see, 

For He has come to me, 

Even unto me. 



WAIT ON THE LORD. 

NE touch from Thee — the Healer of diseases; 
One little touch would make our brother whole ; 
And yet Thou comest not— O blessed Jesus ! 

Send a swift answer to our waiting soul. 
Full many a message have we sent, and pleaded 

That Thou wouldst haste Thy coming, gracious 
Lord ; 
Each message was received, and heard, and heeded, 

And yet we welcome no responsive word. 
We know that Thou art blessing whilst withholding ; 

We know that Thou art near us, though apart ; 
And though we list no answer. Thou art folding 

Our poor petitions to thy smitten heart. 
A bright and glorious answer is preparing. 

Hid in the heights of love— the depths of grace ; 
We know that Thou, the Risen, still art bearing 

Our cause as Thine within the holy j>lace. 



236 -3fF PRATEB. 



And so we trust our pleadings to Thy keeping ; 

So at Tliy feet we lay our burden down ; 
Content to bear the earthly cross, with weeping, 

Till at Thy feet we cast the heavenly crown. 



MT PBA TEB. 

r\ lYE me a song, and I will sing it ! 

vT Give me an offering, I will bring it ! 

Give me Thyself, and I will take Thee ! 

Withdraw Thyself, and I forsake Thee ! 

My land lies fallow : Master, till me ! 

My heart lies empty : Master, fill me ! 

It plays the traitor : Master, win me ! 

It faints ! it dies ! Put new life in me ! 

It goes astray : good Shepherd, lead me ! 

It sighs for liunger : come and feed me ! 

It is so poor ! Give riches to me ! 

It is corrupt: O Lord, renew me ! 

S(i* ignorant ! Oh ! wilt Thou teach me ? 

Has wandered far ! But Thou canst reach me ! 

Is sore diseased : Physician, heal me ! 

Exposed to danger : oh, conceal me ! 

It trembles ! In Thine arms, oh, fold me ! 

Begins to sink ! O Saviour, hold me ! 

Is sinking fast ! Lord, look upon me ! 

So cold and dark ! Oh, shine upon me ! 

A poor, lost sinner ! Come and find me ! 



LIGHT OF THE WOULD. 237 



A rebel ! May Thy love now bind me ! 

A prodigal ! Wilt Thou receive me ? 

A beggar ! Oh ! wilt Thou relieve me ? 

A backslider ! Wilt Thou restore me ? 

Unholy ! May Thy presence awe me ! 

Unfit to die ! O God, prepare me ! 

So weak ! On eagles' wings, oh, bear me I 

So comfortless ! Lord Jesus, cheer me ! 

So lonely ! God of love, draw near me ! 

By sin accused ! Good Lord, acquit me ! 

Unfit for Heaven's pure service ! Fit me ! 

Unfit for work on earth ! But use me ! 

A suppliant ! Do not Thou refuse me ! 

Oh ! come and fill the hungry with good things : 

For Thou hast all I need, Thou King of kings 1 



LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 

LIGHT of the AVorld ! to Thee I come ! 
All dark with sin am I ; 
Yet is thy light my childhood's home, 
Long lost : now through the earth I roam 
A stranger, wearily. 

Though I am dark, Thou seest me. 

And know est all my sin ; 
I cannot hide one thought from Thee — 
Kor would I, Lord ! O search, and see 

All that lies hid within 1 



238 NOT LOIST. 



Unless I know my Fiithcr knows 
The worst, that I have done, 

How can I bear tlie love He shows ? 

How take the o'ift that love bestows 
On such a guilty one ? 

My Father, lo, all doubting dies ! 

I liRoiD that Thou canst see. 
Outspread before Thy glorious eyes 
My present, past, and future lies ; 

And yet Thou lovest me ! 



NOT LOST . 

THE look of sympathy, the gentle word, 
Spoken so low that only angels heard ; 
The secret art of j^ure self-sacrifice. 
Unseen by men but marked by angels' eyes ; 
These are not lost. 

The sacred music of a tender strain. 
Wrung from a poet's heart by grief and pain, 
And chanted timidly, with doubt and fear, 
To busy crowds who scarcely pause to hear, 
It is not lost. 

The silent tears that fall at dead of night. 

Over soiled robes which once were pure and white ; 



JERUSALEM ABO VE IS FREE. 239 



The f)rayers that rise like incense from the soul, 
Longing for Christ to make it clean and whole ; 
These are not lost. 

The happy dreams that gladdened all our youth, 
When dreams had less of self and more of truth ; 
The childlike faith, so tranquil and so sweet, 
"Which sat like M-.ry at the Master's feet; 
These are not lost. 

The kindly plans devised for others' good, 
So seldom guessed, so little understood ; 
The quiet, steadfast love that strove to win 
Some wanderer from the woeful ways of sin ; 
These are not lost. 

Not lost, O Lord, for in Thy city bright. 
Our eyes shall see the past by clearer light ; 
And things long hidden from our gaze below, 
Thou wilt reveal, and we shall surely know 
They were not lost. 



JERUSALEM ABOVE IS FREE. 

I WOULD not stay the years that wing, 
Howe'er my lot be cast, 
JN'or say, O sun, look back, and bring 
One day from out the past. 



240 JEB WALUM ABOVU IS FREE. 

He ever "will my portion be 
Whose goodne;^s I recall — 

Jerusalem above is free, 
And mother of us all. 

Free are her hajDi^}' gates to prayer, 

And open night and day, 
The holy lyres are tuneful there 

When earthworn pilgrims pray ; 
There wakes the strain of jubilee 

When helpless sinners call — 
Jerusalem above is free. 

And mother of us all. 

Free are the fadeless bowers of rest, 

And free their joys untold, 
Free are the mansions of the blest, 

And free the streets of gold. 
Though hidden long the glories be 

Salvation is the wall — 
Jerusalem above is free, 

And mother of us all. 

Home of my soul ! I praise the Lord 

That made thy comforts free. 
And led me by His faithful word 

To seek my rest in Thee ! 
Though circumscribed my way may be, 

I know, whate'er befall, 
Jerusalem above is free. 

And mother of us all. 



LIVING WATERS. 241 



I would not stay the years that wing, 

However my lot be cast, 
Nor say, sun, look back, and bring 

One day from out the past. 
He ever will my portion be 

Whose goodness I recall — 
Jerusalem above is free, 

And mother of us all. 



LIVING WATERS. 

THERE are some hearts like wells, green-mossed 
and deep 
As ever summer saw ; 
And ccol their water is — yea, cool and sweet ; — 

But you must come to draw. 
They hoard not, yet they rest in calm content, 

And not unsought will give ; 
They can be quiet with their wealth unspent, 
So self-contained they live. 

And there are some like springs, that bubbling 

To follow dusty ways, [burst 

And run with offered cup to quench his thirst 

Where the tired traveler strays : — 
That never ask the meadows if they want 

What is their joy to give — 
Unasked, their lives to other life they grant — 

So self-bestowed thev live ! 
21 



242 AT EVENING, 



And One is like the ocean, deep and wide, 

Wherein all waters fall ; 
That girdles the broad earth, and draws the tide, 

Feeding and bearing all. 
That broods the mists, that sends the clouds abroad. 

That takes, again to give ; 
Even the great and loving heart of God, 

Whereby all love doth live. 



A T EVENING. 

UNDER Thy loving care 
Another day has past ; 
Its sacrifice I bear 
To Thee at last. 

Thou knowest every cross. 
Each pleasure and each pain ; 

Thou seest what is loss, 
And what is gain. 

These tangled threads of life 

Thou boldest in thy hand, 
And thou their seeming strife 

Dost understand. 

So in thy loving care 

J. rest secure, forgiven ; 
Thou wilt the morrow's work prepare, 

Or give me Heaven. 



MY cuosi;. 243 



3ir Gnosis. 

IT is not heavy agonizing woe, 
Bearing me down with hopeless, crushing weight ; 
No ray of comfort in the gathering gloom ; 
A heart bereaved, a household desolate. 

It is not sickness with her withering hand, 
Keeping me low upon a couch of pain ; 
Longing each morning for the weary nig-ht 
At night for weary day to come again. 

It is not poverty with chilling blast, 
The sunken eye, the hunger-wasted form ; 
The dear ones perishing for lack of bread. 
With no safe shelter from the winter's storm. 

It is not slander with her evil tongue ; 
'lis not " presumptuous sins " against my God ; 
Not reputation lost, nor fdends betrayed ; 
That such is not my cross, I thank my God. 

Mine is a daily cross of petty cares, 
Of little duties pressing on my heart, 
Of little troubles hard to reconcile, 
Of inward troubles overcome in part. 

My feet are weary in their daily rounds, 
My heart is weary of its daily care. 



244 ALOIS E WITH GOD. 



My sinful nature often doth rebel ; 

I pray for grace my daily cross to bear. 

It is not heavy, Lord, yet oft I jnne ! 

It is not heavy, but 'tis everywhere ; 

By day and night each hour my cross I bear, 

I dare not lay it down — Thou keep'st it there. 

I dare not lay it down ; I only ask 
That, taking up my daily cross, I may 
Follow my Master, humbly, step by step. 
Through clouds and darkness unto perfect day. 



ALONE WITH GOD. 

ALONE with Thee, my God ! alone with Thee ! 
Thus wouldst Thou have it still — thus let it be, 
There is a secret chamber in each mind, 

Which none can find 
But He w^ho made it — none beside can know 

Its joy or woe. 
Oft may I enter it, oppressed by care. 

And find Thee there ; 
So full of watchful love, Thou know'st the why 

Of every sigh. 
Then all Thy righteous dealings shall I see, 
Alone with Thee, my God ! alone with Thee. 



ALONE WITH GOD. 245 



The joys of earth are like a summer's day, 

Fading away ; 
But in the twilight we may better trace 

Thy wondrous grace. 
The homes of earth are emptied oft by death 

With chilling breath ; 
The loved departed guest may ope no more 

The well-known door ; 
Still in that chamT)er seal'd Thou'lt dwell with me. 
And I with Thee, my God ! alone with Thee. 

The world's false voice would bid me enter not 

That hallowed spot ; 
And earthly thoughts would follow on the track 

To hold me back, 
Or seek to break the sacred peace within 

With this world's din. 
But, by Thy grace, I'll cast them all aside, 

Whate'er betide ; 
And never let that cell deserted be. 
Where I may dwell alone, my God, with Thee. 

The war may rage ! — keep Thou the citadel. 

And all is well. 
And when I learn the fullness of Thy love 

With Thee above — 
When every heart oppressed by hidden grief 

Shall gain relief — 
21* 



246 THE BATTLE FOUGHT AND WON. 



When every weary soul shall find its rest 

Amidst the blest — 
Then all my heart, from sin and sorrow free, 
Shall be a temple meet, my God, for Thee ! 



THE BATTLE FOUGHT AND WON. 

COME, Lord, and fight the battle, 
My hands are tired and faint : 
I have no strength to struggle, 

" Consider my complaint." 
One of Thy weakest soldiers 

Is weary in the field, — 
Yet Thine is all the victory, 
Thy love is all my shield. 

'Tis not that I am weary 

Of service done for Thee ; — 
'Tis not that I would alter 

Thy loving will for me — 
Sweet is the vineyard labor, 

Through all the toil and heat ; 
And sweet the lonely night-watch 

Safe resting at Thy feet. 

Yet, Lord, there is a warfare 

No eye but Thine may see ; 
Oh, hear my cry for succor, 

Cpme Thou, and fight for me. 



THE BATTLE FOUGHT AND WON. 247 

The self I cannot conquer, 

The will that still is mine, 
Oh, take them both. Lord Jesus, 

And make them one with Thine, 

Take them ! I cannot yield them — 

I am not what I seemed : 
I have no power, Lord Jesus, 

To do what once I dream'd. 
The yearning of the earth-life, 

Is stronger than my strength ; 
When may the spell be broken, 

And freedom come at length ? 

Like dew on drooping blossoms, 

Like breath from holy place, 
Laden with health and healing 

Come Thy deep words of grace ; 
" Thy strength is all in leaning. 

On One who fights for thee ; 
Thine is the helpless clinging. 

And Mine the yictory." 



248 NOT KNOWING. 



NOT KNOWING. 

I KNOW not what will befall me ! God hangs a 
mist o'er my eyes ; 
And o'er each step of my onward path He makes 

new scenes to rise, 
And every joy He sends me comes as a sweet and 
glad surprise. 

I see not a step before me, as I tread the days of 

the year, 
But the past is still in God's keeping, the future 

His mercy shall clear. 
And what looks dark in the distance, may brighten 

as I d)*aw near. 

For perhaps the dreadful future has less bitterness 

than I think ; 
The Lord may sweeten the water before I stoop to 

drink. 
Or, if Marah must be Marah, He will stand beside 

its brink. 

It may be there is waiting for the coming of my 

feet 
Some gift of such rare blessedness, some joy so 

strangely sweet, 
That my lips can only tremble with the thanks I 

cannot speak. 



MY ArrOINTED TIME. 249 



restful, blissful ignorance ! 'Tis blessed not to 

know ; 
It keeps me quiet in those arms which will not let 

me go, 
And hushes my soul to rest on the bosom which 

loves me so. 

So I go on not knowing. I would not if I might ; 

1 would rather walk in the dark with God, than go 

alone in the light, 
I would rather walk with Him by faith, than walk 
alone by sight. 

My heart shrinks back from trials which the future 

may disclose, 
Yet I never had a sorrow but what the dear Lord 

chose ; 
So I send the coming tears back, with the whis- 

leered word, " He knows." 



MY APPOINTED TIME. 

I THOUGHT me near the pearly gate, 
I thought I heard the Master call ; 
But I was wrong, and I must wait : 
Not yet ! I have not suffered all. 

I thought I heard the angel's song, 
That breaks like some eternal sea ; 



250 MY APPOINTED TIME. 



I thought I saw the countless throng 
Bending to God the rev'rent knee. 

I thought I knew the sainted face 
Of many here whom I had known ; 

But glorified with some new grace, 
And into Jesus' likeness grown. 

And, oh, I thought the kingly One, 
My soul delights its Lord to call, 

Rose on my being like a sun ; 
And like a sun outshone them all. 

But I was wrong ; I am not ripe 

To enter on my endless rest : 
Where God's own hand all tears shall wipe, 

And soothe each heavy-laden breast. 

I have a will, yet, of my own : 
The Lord has work for me to do ; 

All earthly things I've not outgrown, 
Nor wholly put on all things new. 

My time appointed I will wait, 

Until my last great change shall come ; 

Then He will open wide the Gate, 
And, satisfied, I shall go home. 



LET ME FIND THEE. 251 



LET ME FIND THEE. 

BEHOLD me here, in grief draw near, 
Pleading at Thy throne, O King ! 
To Thee each tear, each trembling fear, 

Jesus, Son of Man ! I bring. 
Let me tind Thee — let me find Thee — 
Me, a vile and worthless thing ! 

Look down in love, and from above, 

With Thy Spirit satisfy ; 
Thou hast sought me. Thou hast bought me, 

And Thy purchase, Lord, am I. 
Let me find Thee — let me find Thee, 

Here on earth, and then on high ! 

No other prayer to Thee I bear, 

O my Lord, but only this ; 
To share Thy grace, to see Thy face. 

And to know Thy people's bliss. 
Let me find Thee — let me find Thee — 

Thee to find is blessedness ! 

Hear the broken, scarcely spoken 
Utterance of my heart to Thee ; 

All the crying, all the sighing, 
Of Thy child accepted be. 

Let me find Thee— let me find Thee ; 
'J'hus my soul longs vehemently ! 



253 ENDURANCE. 



"Worldly pleasures, earthly treasures, 
Joys and honors, will not stay: 

They often pain, and, oh ! how vain, 
Looking to eternity ! 

Let me find Thee — let me find Thee — 
Find Thee, O my God, this day I 



ENDURANCE. 

HOW much the heart may bear, and yet not break ! 
How much the flesh may sufibr, and not die ! 
I question much if any pain or ache 

Of soul or body brings our end more nigh. 
Death chooses his own time ; till that is worn. 
All evils may be borne. 

"We shrink and shudder at the surgeon's knife ; 

Each nerve recoiling from the cruel steel, 
"Whose edge seems searching for the quivering life; 

Yet to our sense the bitter pangs reveal 
That still, although the trembling flesh be torn,. 
This, also, can be borne. 

"We see a sorrow rising in our way, 

And try to flee from the approaching ill. 

We seek some small escape — we weep and pray — 
But when the blow falls, then our hearts are still, 

Not that the pain is of its sharpness shorn, 
But that it can be borne. 



BEAD Y FOIi ALL ! 253 



We wind our life about another life— 
We liokl it closer, dearer than our own — 

Anon it faints and falls in deadly strife, 

Leaving us stunned, and stricken, and alone; 

But ah ! we do not die with those who mourn — 
This, also, can be borne. 

Behold, we live through all things — famine, thirst, 
Bereavement, pain ! all grief and misery, 

All woe and sorrow ; life inflicts its worst 
On soul and body — but we cannot die. 

Though we be sick, and tired, and faint, and worn; 
Lo ! all things can be borne. 



READY FOR ALL! 

ii "pEADY, O Master 1" with eager lip 
JLl) We cried when the day was new ; 
." And whatsoever Thy high commands. 
Thy servants are waiting with willing hands, 
Prepared both to dare and to do T' 

" Ready, O Master !" — Xo answer came, 
As we waited in weariness long : 
Had He scorned the hands that were fain to bear 
Their part in the burden — fain to share 
In the battle, the triumph, the song ? 
22 



254 I WOULD HA VE GONE. 



" Ready, O Master !" we cried once more, 
As tlie long, long hours went by : 
" Tell us Tliy will ! Is it woe or sliame ; 
We will bear them both, for Thy blessed name, 
For Thy name we would gladly die." 

Softly the answer came — " O child ! 

Not such is My will for thee, 
But only to stand in thy quiet lot, 
Doing its duties and questioning not 

What the wherefore or end may be." 

O Infinite love, that has ordered thus ! 
Yet oft it more w^earisome seems 
Patiently thus to be serving here, 
Than to carry the banner and sword and spear, 
And fight in the fields of our dreams. 

Patience ! O questioning, wavering heart ! 

Good cheer and glad courage be thine ! 
The cup of cold water bestowed in His name. 
Is sweeter than sacrifice, fairer than fame, 

And the service itself is divine ! 



I WOULD HAVE GONE. 

I WOULD have gone, God bade me stay, 
I would have worked, God bade me rest ; 
He broke my will from day to day ; 
He read my yearnings unexpressed, 
And said them nay. 



/SUJJMJiSSlOiV. 255 



Now I would stay, God bids me go, 
Now I would rest, God bids me work ; 
He breaks my heart, tossed too and fro ; 
My soul is wrung with doubts that lurk 
And vex it so. 

I go. Lord, where Thou sendest me ! 
Day after day, I plod and moil. 
But Christ, my Lord, when will it be 
That I may let alone my toil, 
And rest with Thee ? 



SUBMISSION. 

r\ OD'S right-hand angel bright and calm- 
VX Christ's strengthener in the agony — 
Teach us the meaning of that psalm 
Of fullness only known by tliee : 
" Thy will be done !" We sit alone, 
And grief within our heart grows strong 
With passionate moaning, 'till thou come. 
And turn it to a song. 

Come wlien the days go heavily. 

Weighed down with burdens hard to bear ; 

When joy and hope fail utterly, 

And leave us fronted by despair. 

Come not with flattering earthly light — 



256 tiVEMISSlON. 



But with those clear grand eyes that see 
Beyond the dark, beyond the bright, 
Straight toward Eternity. 

Teach us to work when work seems vain, 
This is half victory over fate — 
To match ourselves against our pain ; 
The rest is done when we can wait. 
Unseal our eyes to see how rife 
With bloom this thorny path may be ; 
And how it leads to heights of life 
Which only thou canst see. 

Content thee — so the angel saith — 
Thy minor makes the triumph strain 
Sound sweeter on celestial breath — 
And God has use for all thy pain. 
His joy thy struggling soul may reach ; 
From the strong slain comes sweetness still, 
And God lets suffering only teach. 
Some best revealings of His will. 

Then strike within our hearts the key ! 
Though only sorrow's note it give, 
Yet fit us for Thy Harmony, 
And teach us how to live ! 

O patient watcher over all ! 
If broken lives may best comj^lete 
Thy circle, let our fragments fall 
An offering at Thy feet. 



'TWILL NOT BE LONG. 257 



'TWILL NOT BE LONG. 

'nn WILL not be long — this wearying commotion 
_L That marks its passage in the human breast 
And, like the billows on the heaving ocean, 

That ever rock the cradle of unrest, 
"Will j^oon subside ; the happy time is nearing, 

When bliss, not pain, shall have its rich increase, 
E'en unto Thee the dove may now be steering 
With gracious message. Wait, and hold thy peace ; 
'Twill not be long ! 

The lamps go out ; the stars give up their shining ; 

The world is lost in darkness for awhile ; 
And foolish hearts give way to sad repining, 

And feel as though they ne'er again could smile. 
Why murmur thus, the needful lesson scorning ? 

Oh, read thy teacher and His word aright ! 
The world would have no greeting for the morning, 

If 'twere not for the darkness of the night ; 
'Twill not be long ! 

'Twill not be long ; the strife will soon be ended ; 

The doubts, the fears, the agony, the pain, 
Will seem but as the clouds that low descended 

To yield their pleasure to the parched plain. 
The times of weakness and of sore temptations, 

Of bitter grief and agonizing cry ; 
22* 



258 ' T WILL NOT BE L ONG. 



These earthly cares and ceaseless tribulations 

Will bring a blissful harvest by-aud-by — 

'Twill not be long ! 

'Twill not be long ; the eye of faith discerning, 

The wondrous glory that shall be revealed, 
Instructs the soul, that every day is learning 

The better wisdom which the world concealed. 
And soon, aye, soon, there'll be an end of teaching, 

When mortal vision finds immortal sight, 
And her true place the soul in gladness reaching, 

Beholds the glory of the Infinite. 
'Twill not be long ! 

"'Twill not be long ! the heart goes on repeating ; 

It is the burden of the mourner's song ; 
The work of grace in us he is completing, 

Who thus assures us — " It will not be long." 
His rod and stafi" our fainting steps sustaining, 

Our hope and comfort every day will be ; 
And we may bear our cross as uncomplaining 

As He wdio leads us unto Calvary ; 
'Twill not be long ! 



THE NOBLE ARMY OF MARTYRS. 259 



THE NOBLE ARMY OF 3IABTTR8 
PRAISE THEE. 

"IXTOT they alone who from the bitter strife 
W Came forth victorious, yielding willingly 
That which they deem most precious, even life, 

Content to suffer all things, Chri.-t, for Thee ; 
Not they alone whose feet so firmly trod 

The pathway ending in rack, sword and flame, 
Foreseeing death, yet faithful to their Lord, 

Enduring for His sake the j)ain and shame. 
!Not they alone have won the martyi's palm, 
Not only from their lips proceeds the eternal psalm. 

For earth hath martyrs now, a saintly throng, 

Each day unnoticed do we pass them by; 
'Mid busy crowds they calmly move al^ng. 

Bearing a hidden cross, how patiently! 
Not theirs the sudden anguish, swift and keen, 

Their hearts are worn and wasted with small cares, 
With daily griefs and thrusts from foes unseen, 

Troubles and trials that take them unawares ; 
Theirs is a lingering, silent martyrdom. 
They weep through weary years, and long for rest 
to come. 

They weep, but murmur not ; it is God's will. 
And they have learned to bend their own to His, 



260 BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD. 

Simply enduring, knowing that each ill 
Is but the herald of some future bliss ; 

Striving and suffering, yet so silently 

They know it least who seem to know them best, 

Faithful and true through long adversity, 

They work and wait until God gives them rest ; 

These surely share with those of bygone days, 

The palm-branch and the crown, and swell their 
song of praise. 



BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOB. 

BE still, my child! 
I trod this way before ; 
My hand shall guide thee thro' the wild, 
Ask nothing more. 

Be still, my child ! 

I love thee first and last. 
On Me, thy Saviour meek and mild, 

Thy sorrows cast. 

Be still, my child ! 

Leave all thy joys and fears, 
I know thy hopes and longings wild, 

I see thy tears. 

Be still, my child ! 

My hand shall make the whole : 



JESUS, SAVIOUR, riLOT ME. 261 



From every sin that bath defiled, 
Shall cleanse thy soul. 

Be still, my child ! 

And thou shalt feel My grace ; 
Come with a spirit meek and mild 

Before My face. 

Be still, my child ! 

And I will give thee peace ; 
When once My face on thee hath smiled, 

Thy woes shall cease. 

Be still, my child ! 

Until I call thee Home, 
Then from thy wandering in the wild, 

Arise, and come ! 



JESUS, SAVIOUR, PILOT ME. 

JESUS, Saviour, pilot me 
Over life's tempestuous sea : 
Unknown waves before me roll, 
Hiding rock and treacherous shoal ; 
Chart and compass came from Thee : 
Jesus, Saviour, pilot me. 

When the Apostles' fragile bark 
Struggled with the billows dark, 



363 



JESUS, SAVIOUR, PILOT ME. 



On the stormy Galilee, 
Thou didst walk upon the sea ; 
And when they beheld Thy form, 
Safe they glided through the storm. 

Though the sea be smooth and bright. 
Sparkling with the stars of night, 
And my ship's path be ablaze 
With the light of halcyon days. 
Still I know my need of Thee ; 
Jesus, Saviour, pilot me ! 

When the darkling heavens frown. 
And the wrathful ^^i^ds come down, 
And the iieice waves, tossed on high, 
Lash themselves against the sky, 
Jesus, Saviour, pilot me 
Over life's tempestuous sea. 

As a mother stills her child 
Thou canst hush the ocean wild ; 
Boisterous waves obey Thy will 
When Thou sayest to them, " Be still," 
Wondrous Sovereign of the sea, 
Jesus, Saviour, pilot me. 

When at last I near the shore, 
And the fearful breakers roar 
'Twixt me and the peaceful rest, 



DRAW NIGH TO GOB, ETC. 263 



Then, while leaning on Thj- breast, 
May I hear Thee say to me, 
' Fear 7iot, I icill j^Uot thee /" 



"Di?.4TF IflGR TO GOB, AND HE WILL 
DRAW NIGH TO TOW 

¥EARY and faint 
Our garments stained with sin and soiled 
with tears — 
Not tears tliat fall like blessed summer rain, 

But heavy drops of pain, 
Wrung from the heart's deep passion and distress, 
AVrung from the yearning of its tenderness — 
Thus — with the guilt an! grief of days and years 
We do draw nigh. 

Yes — we draw nigh ! 
We are not worthy, Lord, to seek Thy face — 
Not worthy — for our need is all our plea — 

Yet may we come to Thee — 
Nor fear to bring our darkness to Thy light, 
All pure and holy in Thy perfect sight. 
Clad in the white robe of our Saviour's grace — 

So we draw nigh. 

Ye=, we draw nigh — 
To Thee, the Comforter, we come for peace, — 
Thou knowest. Lord, our weakness and our fear, 

And Thou wih. surely hear, — 



264 TO MYSELF. 



Wilt hear the cry that from life's wild wide sea 
Rises from hearts that only cling to Thee ; — 
One look, one word, can bid om' anguish cease — 
So we draw nigh. 

Thou wilt draw nigh ! 
Father-it is no dream that Thou art near — • 
No dream that, in my sin and misery, 

I may look up to Thee, — 
May hide beneath the shadow of Thy wings, 
From all the restlessness of outward things. 
And from my own heart's self-accusing fear — 

For Thou art nigh ! 



TO MYSELF. 

LET nothing make thee sad or fretful, 
Or too regretful, 
Be still ; 
What God hath ordered must be right, 
Then find in it thine own delight. 
My will. 

Why shouldst thou fill to-day with sorrow 
About to-morrow, 

My heart ? 
One watches all with care most true, 
Doubt not that He will give thee, too, 

Thy part. 



" TJHE L ORD KNO WETH. " 265 



\i 



Only be steadfast, never waver, 
Nor seek earth's favor, 

But rest : 
Tliou knowest what God wills must he, 
For all His creatures, so for thee, 

The best. 



" THE LORD KNOWETHr 

THE Lord knoweth where each flower groweth 
That bloometh for Him 'midst these earthly 
fields. 
Though men despise it, lie will fondly prize it. 
Welcome the ofiering that its fragrance yields. 

The Lord knoweth when the rough wind bloweth 

TJlJon the weary and the laden one ; 
With tender feeling for the suppliant kneeling, 

He shields and strengthens till the storm is done. 

The Lord knoweth when each hot tear floweth 
From eyes of those wdio suffer while they pray. 

He knows their sorrow, in the glad to-morrow 
Will wii)e in gentleness those drops away. 

The Lord knoweth when each servant soweth 
With heavy heart and seemingly in vain ; 

When, after sleeping, there will come the reaping, 
Will grant glad harvests where they toiled in pain. 
2 a 



2G6 OUmTH OF THE HEART. 



The Lord knowctli when the mourner goeth 
To weep her loneliness by cherished grave. 

Unseen He speakcth to the heart that breaketh : 
" I can restore him, for 'tis I that save." 

The Lord knoweth when the wand'rer throweth 
Some little incense on His fd tar-fire ; 

Sees his contrition, welcomes his petition. 
Tells his repentance to the heavenly choir. 

The Lord knoweth when the slow pnlse showetli 
That we are drawing near to Jordan's strand. 

When oar heart faileth, then His strength availeth, 
And brings ns safely to the better land. 

The Lord knoweth ! ^i your faint heart trowetli 

It is uncjred for by its God above, 
Oh ! doubt no longer, but in this be stronger : 

He knoweth all things, and His name is Love. 



GUESTS OF THE HEART. 

SOFT falls through the gathering twilight 
The rain from the dripping eaves, 
And stirs with a tremulous rustle 
The dead and the dying leaves ; 
While afar, in the midst of the shadows, 

I hear the sweet voices of bells, 
Come borne on the wind of the Autumn 
That fitfully rises and swells. 



GUESW OF THE HEART. 267 



They call and tliey answer each other, 

They answer and )iiiugle again, 
As the deep and the shrill in an anthem 

Make harmony still in their strain. 
As the voices of sentinels mingle 

In momitainoiis regions of snow. 
Till from hill-toj) to hill-top a chorus 

Floats down to the valleys below. 

The shadows, the fire-light of even. 

The sound of the rain's distant chime, 
Come bringing, with rain softly dropping, 

Sweet thoughts of a shadowy time ; 
The s'umbcrjus sense of seclusion, 

From storm and intruders aloof. 
We feel wdien vre hear in the midnight 

The patter of rain on the roof. 

When the spirit goes forth in its yearnings 

To take all its wanderers home ; 
Or, afar in the regions of fancy. 

Delights on swift pinions to roam, 
I quietly sit by the fire-light — 

The fire-light so bright and so warm — 
For I know that those only who love me 

Will seek me through shadow and storm. 

But should they be absent this evening, 
Should even the household depart, 

Deserted, I should not be lonely. 

There still would be guests in my heart. 



268 TEE JOYFUL CALL. 



The faces of friends that I cherish, 

The smile, and the glance, and the tone, 

"Will haunt me wherever I wander, 
And thus I am never alone. 

With those who have left far behind them 

The joys and the sorrows of time — 
Who sing the sweet songs of the angels 

In a purer and holier clime ! 
Then darkly, O evening of Autumn, 

Your rain and your shadows may fall : 
My loved and my lost ones you bring me — 

My heart holds a feast with them all. 







THE JOYFUL GALL. 

H, wayward soul. 

Dost thou not see the beckoning hand ? 
Dost thou not hear the blest command, 
The Saviour's call ? 
He bids tliee noAV rejoice. 
Must His beseeching voice 
On deaf ears fall ? 

Oh, fainting heart. 
Torn by so many doubts and fears, 
Struggling midst many sighs and tears 
In anguish sore, 
Oh, raise thy tear-dimmed eyes 
Upward, above the skies, 
Forever iriore. 



THE TRUST OT THE TMIEB. 269 



Arise and go, 
The blessed Lord liath need of thee. 
Hear even now His tender plea : 
Be of good cheer. 
He'll be thy dearest friend, 
Keep thee unto the end ; 
Be ever near. 

Take up thy cross, 
Then shalt tliou find the burden light, 
The path made straight, the way all bright, 
Thy warfare cease. 
So shalt thou win thy crown. 
At last thy life lay down 
In perfect peace. 

A little while 
To toil below for His dear sake, 
Then sweetly sleep in Him and wake 
To thy reward ! 
Oh, holy, happy rest ! 
To be forever blest 

In Christ thy Lord. 



THE TRUST OF THE TRIED. 

TO God's all-gracious heart and mind 
My heart and mind I yield ; 
In seeming loss my gain I find, 
In death, life stands revealed. 
23* 



270 THE TRUST OF TEE TRIED. 



I am His own whose glorious throne 

In highest heaven is set ; 
Beneath His stroke or sorrow's yoke 

His heart upholds me yet. 

There is but one thing cannot fail, 

Tliat is my Father's love ; 
A sea of troubles may assail 

My soul, — 'tis but to prove 
And train my mind, by warnings kind, 

To love the good through pain ; 
When firm I stand, full soon His hand 

Can raise me up again. 

Yet oft we think, is aught withdrawn 

That flesh and blood desire. 
Our joy is lost, o'ercast our dawn. 

And faith and courage tire ; 
With toil and care our hearts we wear. 

O'er our lost hope we brood ; 
Nor think that all that doth befall 

Is meant to work our good. 

But when God rules it must be so. 

It must bring joy again ; 
What now we deem but cross and woe 

Shall turn to comfort then. 
Have patience still, His gracious will 

Through thickest cloud shall gleam ; 
Then torturing fears, and hopeless tears, 

Shall vanish like a dream. 



TUE TRUST OF TEE TRIED. 271 

The field can never bear its fruits, 

Save winter storm and freeze ; 
Man's goodness withers at its roots 

In days of constant ease ; 
The bitter draught of aloes quafitsd, 

Health tints the cheeks once more ; 
So to our heart can sorrow's smart 

New energy restore. 

Then, O my God, with joy I cast 

My load of care on Thee ; 
Take me, and Avhile this life shall last 

Do as Thou wilt with me. 
Send weal or woe, as Thou shalt know 

Will teac'i me their true worth. 
And fit me best to stand their test, 

And show Thy glory forth. 

If happy sunshine be Thy gift, 

AVith joy I take it, Lord ; 
If o'er dark stormy seas I drift, 

I hear Thy guiding word ; 
If lengthened life, with blessings rife, 

Before my feet be spread. 
So Thou my guide wilt still abide, 

With joy that path I tread. 

But must I w^alk the vale of death 

Through sad and sunless ways ? 
I pass along in quiet faith, 

Thy glance my fear allays ; 



272 GONE. 

Tlirougli the dark land my Shepherd's hand 

Leads to an end so bright, 
That I shall there w ith praise declare, 

That all God's ways are right ! 



O ONE. 

LIST to the midnight lone ! 
The church clock speaketh with a solemn tone — 
Doth it no more than tell the time ? 
Hark ! from that belfry gray, 
In each deep-booming chime, which, slow and clear, 
Beats like a measured bell upon my ear, 
A stern voice seems to say : 

Gone— gone ; 
The hour is gone — the day is gone ; 
Pray ! 

The air is hushed again, 

But the darkness woos to sleep in vain. , 

O Soul ! we have slept too long. 

Yes, dreamed the morn away 
In visions false, and feverish unrest, 
Wasting the work-time God hath given and blest. 

Conscience grows pale to see 

How, like a haunting face. 
My youth stares at me out of gloom profound : 
"With rayless eyes, black as the darkness round, 



GONE. . 27^ 

And waiting lips wliicli say : 

Gone — gone ; 
Tlie morn is gone — the morn is gone ; 

Pray ! 

Woe for the wasted years 

Born bright with smiles?, but buried with sad tears, 

Their tombs have been prepared 

By Time, that gravesman gray ; 
Soul, we may weep to count each stone, 
And read the epitaph engraved thereon 

By that stern carver's hand. 

Yet weep not long, for Hope, 
Steadfast and calm, beside each headstone stands 
Gazing on Time, with upward-pointing hands. 

Take we this hapjjy sign, 

Up ! let us work and pray. 

Thou in whose sight the hoary ages fly 
Swift as a summer's noon, yet whose stern eye 

Doth note each moment lost. 
So let me live, that not one hour misspent 
May rise in judgment on me, penitent, 

But, till the sunset, Lord, 

So in Thy vineyard toil. 
That every hour a priceless gem may be, 
To crown the blind brows of Eternity. 



274 



IWVK OF AGES. 



ROCK OF A GES. 

'^ T) OCK of Ages, cleft for me "— 

Ll) Tboiiglitlessly the maiden smig, 
Fell the words unconsciously, 

From her girlish, gleeful tongue ; 
Sang as little children sing ; 

Sang ns sing the birds in June ; 
Fell the words like light leaves down 

On the current of the tune — 
" Rock of Ages, cleft for me, 

Let me hide myself in Thee." 

" Let me hide myself in Thee," 
Felt her soul no need to hide : 
Sweet the song as song could be — 
And she had no thought beside ; 
All the words unheedingly 

Fell from lips untouched by care, 
Dreaming not they each might be 
On some other lips a prayer — 
" Rock of Ages, cleft for me, 
Let me hide myself in Thee." 

" Rock of Ages, cleft for me '' — 
'Twas a woman sung them now, 

Pleadingly and prayerfully ; 

Every word her heart did know. 

Rose the song as storm-tossed bird 
Beats with weary wing the air, 



HOCK OF AGES. 275 



Every note with sorrow stirred — 
Every syllable a f)rayer — 
" Rock of Ages, cleft for me, 

Let me hide myself in Thee." 

" Rock of Ages, cleft for me '' — 
Lips grown aged sung the hymn 
Trustingly and tenderly — 

Voice grown weak and eyes grown dim. 
" Let me hide myself in Thee " — 

Trembling though the voice and low, 
Ran the sweet strain peacefully, 

Like a river in its flow. 
Sung as only they can sing. 

Who behold the promised rest — 
" Rock of Ages cleft for me. 

Let me hide myself in Thee." 

" Rock of Ages, cleft for me " — 

Sung above a coffin lid ; 
Underneath, all restfully. 

All life's joys and sorrows hid. 
Never more, O storm-tossed soul, 

Never more from wind or tide, 
Never more from billow's roll. 

Wilt thou need thyself to hide. 
Could the sightless, sunken eyes. 

Closed beneath the soft gray hair. 



276 " UNTIL HE come:' 



Could the mute and stiifened lips 
Move again in pleading prayer, 
Still, aye, still, the words would be, 
" Let me hide myself in Thee." 



''UNTIL HE COMEy 

'i miLL He come !"— oh, let the words 
X Linger on the trembling chords ; 
Let the little while between, 
In their golden light be seen ; 
Let us think how heaven and home 
Lie beyond that " Till He come." 

When the weary ones we love 

Enter on their rest above, 

Seems the earth so poor and vast, 

All our life-joy overcast ? 

Hush ! be every murmur dumb ; 

It is only " Till He come." 

Clouds and conflicts round us press ; 
Would we have one sorrow less ? 
All the sharpness of the cross, 
All that tells the world is loss, 
Death and darkness and the tomb 
Only whisper, '" Till He come." 



PEA TING. 277 



See, the feast of love is spread ! 
Drink ttie wine and break the bread ; 
Sweet memorials ! — till the Lord 
Call us round His heavenly board ; 
Some from earth, from glory some, 
Severed only — till He come. 



PBA TING. 

CLOSE, close, beloved mine, 
Around my heart entwine. 
In Love's strong clasping, as I hold thee, so. 
Above the sky that leans 
Over these deathful scenes, 
To Him, the Eternal Life and Love, we go. 

"Back from His awful light, 

Back from consuming sight, 
Of glory infinite, His cherubim 

Stand reverently veiled. 

Before His splendor paled. 
All majesty, all brightness waneth dim. 

Yet see, anear His feet. 

White-robed, and chanting sweet 
Their song of love, His ransomed myriads bow. 

For them, on cruel rood. 

Did Jesus give His blood : 
Nearest of all in Heaven, they worship now. 
24 



278 PMA TING. 



Think ! is our yearning love 

Cauglit from His lieart above ? 
Then haste we, blend our voices with that choir. 

In noblest strains they pour ; 

We vie with them, and soar 
Until our souls are with His love on fire. 

Alas ! not rapturous strain, 

Unsaddened now with pain. 
Befits us, until Life's fleet changes cease. 

Our sinning we confess, 

Our needs we meekly press, 
And crave the seal-kiss of His hallowed peace. 

Merciful ! we pray. 

Absolve our guilt away; 
Give victory against temptation still ; 

With cheerful grace endue 

These hearts that, weeping, sue 
Too oft for respite from Thy blessed will. 

In us Thy will be done. 

Touch Thou the spirit tone 
That brings our life with Thine in sweet accord. 

In sacred oneness bound, 

Circled by love profound, 
Thy Love — enfold us to Thy bosom, Lord. 



INDEX TO SUBJECTS. 



PAOE 

A Prayer for You 121; 

And they shall see His Face 50 

Abounding? in Hope 92 

An Open Door 98 

Affliction 119 

" As One whom his Mother Comforteth " 2] 3 

At Evening 242 

Alone with God 244 

A Saviour's Love 225 

Bread upon the Waters 182 

Because He first Loved us 210 

Be still, and Know that I am God 260 

Christ Risen 53 

Cast Down, but not Destroyed 91 

Child on the Judgment-Seat, The 109 

Christ's Call to the Soul 141 

Contentment 180 

Come unto Me ! 37 

Celestial Country, The 191 

Day of Rest, The 153 

Death of a Believer, The 20 

" Draw nigh to God, and He will draw to You." 263 

Even as Thou Wilt ! 76 

Everlasting Memorial, The 81 

Earth and Heaven 22 

Evening 217 

Endurance 252 

Fruitless Toil •. 131 

Glory Dwelleth in Immanuel's Land 55 

Giver and the Gifts, The iqt 



280 INDEX TO SUBJECTS. 



GoTellJesusI 188 

Gone 272 

Guests of the Heart 2G6 

He Goeth before Them C3 

His Name 05 

He Giveth Songs in the Night 93 

House of God, The 107 

He Leads us On 117 

Holy Ghost I Dispel our Sadness 118 

Hear My Cry 129 

Have Faith in God. 181 

Hold On, Hold In, Hold Out 1 187 

HeKnowethAlI 13 

Homewards 14 

Hymn 85 

His Truth shall be thy Shield and Buckler 143 

His Ways 219 

In Suffering 50 

Is this All ? 123 

Is There no Balm in Gilead ? 1H7 

I am Christ's and Christ is Mine 149 

In all Time of Tribulation 160 

I will Arise and Go to my Father 1G9 

I Shall be Satis/ied 176 

In the Closet 40 

Indwelling 233 

I Would Have Gone 254 

In the Harvest Field 221 

Jacob's Ladder 71 

Jesus, I am Never Weary 177 

Jerusalem Above is Free 239 

Jesus, Saviour, Pilot Me 2G1 

Kneeling at the Threshold 31 

Knocking, ever Knocking 69 

Light of the World, The 114 

Love that Pusaeth Knowledge, The 156 



INDEX TO HVBJEVTS. 281 



Looking unto Jesus 42 

Loving Cup, The 16 

Lord are there Few that be Saved ? 26 

Lord, Thou art Mine 1 28 

Leave God to Order all Thy Ways 33 

Light of the World 237 

Living Waters 241 

Let Me Find Thee 251 

Mystery of Christ, The 165 

Marah T3 

My Cross. 243 

My Prayer 236 

Mary 210 

My Appointed^ Time 249 

Nearest and Dearest 95 

Now I lay Me Down to Sleep 112 

Nothing but Leaves 1'<'2 

Night Song 10 

NotLost.' 238 

Not as the World Giveth 223 

Not Knowing 248 

Other World, The 51 

Open Thou our Eyes 125 

Other Side, The 147 

Offering, The 185 

Only our Love 47 

Paul Gerhardt's Hymn 173 

Psalm for New Year's Eve, A 189 

Per Pacem, Ad Lucem 75 

Praying '. 277 

Eest Remaineth 175 

Rest for the Weary 184 

Rabboni 226 

Ready for All ! 253 

Kock of Ages i 274 

21* 



282 INDEX TO HUBJEGTS. 



Sick and in Pris^oii 211 

Surely, I Come Quiclvly 62 

Sorrowin<?, yet Always Rejoicing 100 

Submii^siou 121 

Sliadowt^ of the Tast 1-2G 

Satisfied 151 

Shulamite at the Lord's Feet, The 155 

Sheep-Track. The 15S 

Shadow of the Rock, The 7 

Spiritual Temple, The 44 

Sinner's Friend, The IT 

Strength for the Day 221 

Submission . 255 

"Take Heart of Grace" 208 

The " E'en brings a' Ilame " 68 

Two Sunsets, The 77 

Two Villages, The 83 x 

Trust and Rest. 106 

Trust .' 19() 

Two Worlds, The 139 

Two Angels, The , 135 

Their Names 142 

Two 142 

The Way is Long and Dreary 19 

To Thee 232 

The Battle Fought and Won ... . '. 246 

'Twill not be Long 257 

The Noble Army of Martyrs Praise Thee 259 

To Myself 264 

" The Lord Knoweth." : 265 

The Joyful Call 268 

The Trust of the Tried 269 

Upward whei'e the Stars are Burning IS' 

Undertake for Me 2{( 

Undiscovered Country, The 24 

Unseen Battle-Field, The 3B 

" Uutil He Come." ??3 



INDEX TO SUBJECTS. 283 

Visitation of the Sick 163 

Why Dost Thou Wait 79 

Wayside Watcher, The 84 

W^eep Not for Her 97 

Waiting- for Spring IO3 

"^vaking 170 

We shall see Him as He Is I79 

Without Money and Without Price 40 

We Stood Beside the Kiver 29 

We Glory in Tribulation 34 

Waiting for Clirist 105 

Wait on the Lord 235 



INDEZ TO FIRST LINES. 



PAGB 

A? these that watch for clay 23 

Art thou weary ? Art thou languid ? 37 

And whither came these goodly stores 44 

Ah, many a time we look on starlit nights'... AV. alexandek. 71 

All the day you sit here idle 84 

As the harp-strings only render 110 

And he drew near and talked with them .*. . 125 

A friend stands at the door 189 

Alone with Thee, my God ! alone with Thee 1 244 

Bury thy sorrow 188 

Be thou content ; be still before IPO 

Behold me here, in grief draw near joacuim neanpek. 251 

Be still, my child I s. l. ooodwin. 200 

Cometh sunshine after rain 178 

Come, drink ye, drink ye, all of it anna shipton. 16 

Could we but know 24 

Come to Jesus 1 are you lonely anna siiipton. 40 

Clearer than vision of inspired dreamer 1 223 

Close, close, beloved mine cygnus. 277 

Come, Lord, and fight the battle iietty bowman. 246 

Dropping do\\Ti the troubled river bonar. 14 

Father, thy will, not mine, be done 50 

Fret not, poor soul, while doubt and fear 106 

Fair soul created in tlie primal hour 141 

God sends us bitter, that the sweet, .ch as. Lawrence ford 73 

Gently the dew falls on the grass rev. i. n. tarbox, d.d. 217 

Glory to Him who bids the field 221 

Give me a song, and I will sing it 1 236 

God's right-hand angel bright and calm carl spencer. 255 



INDEX TO FIMST LIXES. 285 



He leads us on 117 

Hold OH, my heart, iu thy believing 187 

Heart, be still 10 

Have faith in God, for He who reigns on high 181 

Have mercy on me. Lord ! c. 76 

Hope, Christian soul ! in every stage 92 

Holy Ghost, dispel our sadness 118 

How much the heart may bear, and yet net break ! 252 

I'm kneeling at the threshold guthkie. 31 

I ask if thou canst love me still, O God ! 1G9 

It lies around us like a cloud n. beechek stowe. 51 

I do not ask, O Lord ! that life may be a. a. proctok. 75 

It was the Sabbath's blessed hour 95 

I have done at length with dreaming 170 

In the quiet nursery chambers. 112 

I marvel night and day and cannot cease 1C5 

Is there no balm in Gilead ? 137 

I have a Saviour ! He's pleading in glory 127 

In the moonlight when no murmur . ....... 114 

I love Thee. O my God ! but not fkancis zavier. 210 

I asked for grace to lift me high j. s. d. monsell, d.d. 219 

I bring my sins to Thee 232 

In unto me, oh, Christ, Divine One, come ! a. w. d. 233 

It is not heavy agonizing woe 243 

I woiild not stay the years that wing, hrzekiah butter- 
worth. 239 
I know not what will befall me ! God hangs a mist o'er 

my eyes 248 

I thought me near the pearly gate. . .key. j. e. kankin, d.d. 249 

I would have gone, God bade me stay , 254 

•Jesus, I am never weary 177 

Jesus, Saviour, pilot me rev. edward hopper, d.d. 261 

Knocking, knocking, ever knocking . . .u. beecher stowe. 69 

Lord, thou art mine eonar. 28 

Leave God to order all thy ways george neumark. 33 

Long did I toil, and knew no earthly rest. . .henry f. lyte. 149 



286 INDEX TO FIRST LINES. 



Lord, I have toiled all night 181 

Lord, Thou hast souifht this wayward heart. "W. k. weale. 116 

Lord, while the shadows of the past surveying 126 

Light of the World, to Thee I come 1 237 

" Love I Thee. Lord ? How much love I ? 225 

List to the midnight lone ! 273 

Let nothing make thee sad or fretful paul Fleming. 234 

Much have I borne, but not as I should bear. 91 

Not what I am, O Lord, but what Thou art 1 156 

Not long, not long. The spirit-wasting fever 184 

No bird-song floated down the hill john g. whittier. 77 

No sorrow is unmingled here 100 

No more, my own Lord Jesus ! 185 

Not as He was, a homeless stranger 179 

Not here, not here I not where the sparkling waters ITS 

Nothing but leaves ; the spirit grieves 172 

Not they alone who from the bitter strife 259 

O Jesus ! friend unfixiling 151 

Oh, day most calm, most bright 153 

Once slow and sad the evening fell 107 

Oh, never say that the door is shut 98 

O wonderful I round whose birth-hour.. rev. w. Alexander 65 

O Thou ! the contrite sinner's friend, .charlotte elliott. 17 

O Holy Saviour 1 Friend unseen cuaklotte elliott. 35 

Oh, strong to save and bless bonar. 129 

One touch from Thee— the Healer of diseases . . 235 

Over the river on the hill henry w. longfellow 83 

O'er the distant mountains breaking 62 

Oh, thou! who tossing on life's troubled ocean H. N. c. 208 

Of all the nights of most mysterious dread, .m. j. pkeston. 226 

Oh, wayward soul 208 

Poor trembling lamb, ah ! who outside the fold 79 

Poor heart, why thi-ob thus wildly in my breast. 155 

Peace to this House ! Thou, whose way 163 

Rest remaineth ; oh, how sweet 1 175 



INDEX TO FIRST LINES. 287 



" Ready, O Master !" with eager lip mabel. 253 

" Rock of Ages, cleft for me " 274 

Say not 'twas all in vain ! 182 

Saviour ! by thy sweet compassion 160 

Sweet thought, my God ! that on the palms 142 

Sometimes I catch sweet glimpses of His face 123 

Since Thy Father's arm sustains thee 121 

" So will I comfort you," as when a sobbing child l. 213 

Strength for the day ! At early dawn I stand. eaciiel g. 

ALSOP. 221 

Soft falls through the gathering twilight 266 

The child leans on its parent's breast isaac williams. 120 

The path I trod so pleasant was, and fair 167 

The winds blow fierce across the barren wild j. h. t. 63 

The Shadow of the Rock faeer. 7 

The twilight falls, the night is near 13 

The way is long and dreary Adelaide a. peoctor. 19 

The apostle slept ; a light shone in tlie prison . . . . james j. 

BURNS. 20 

The roseate hues of early dawn 23 

The sands of time are sinking 55 

The air is stirred with holy life d. b. d. 49 

The foe behind, the deep before joiin mason neale. 53 

Two angels, one of Life and one of Death 135 

Two worlds there are, to one our eyes we strain 1.33 

Two buds plucked from the tree 142 

Two ways ! only two ! One leadeth 158 

To do Thy holy will ! george cooper. 47 

Thou, Lord, my path shalt choose 42 

There is an unseen battle-field 38 

The world is very evil 191 

The box is not of stainless alabaster 216 

The look of sympathy, the gentle word 238 

There are some hearts like wells, green-mossed and deep. 

carl spencer. 241 

To God's all-gracious heart and mind paul geehabdt. 269 

'Twill not be long— this wearying commotion 257 



288 INDEX TO FIRST LINES. 



" Till He come !"— oh, let the words, eev. e. h. eicker- 

STETH. 276 

The Lord knowcth where each flower groweth g. z. g. 2(55 

Upward where the stars are burning bonar 12 

Upon the hills the wind is sharp and cold (J8 

Up, and away, like the dew of the morning bonar. 81 

Under Thy loving care h. n. e. 242 

We wait for Thee, aU glorious One ! 105 

Whether there many be or few 26 

We praise Thee oft for hours of bliss john page hopps. 93 

Who would not go ? j. h. t. 26 

Weep not for her, for she hath crossed the river 97 

We stood besido the river 29 

When my sins in aspect dread 143 

Within this leaf, to every eye 34 

What must it be to dwell above swain. 50 

Waiting for Spring. The mother watching lonely 103 

W^e dwell this side of Jordan 's stream 147 

Where hast been toiling all day, sweet heart ? 109 

Wildly tails the night around me Alice cart. 211 

Weary and faint hetty bowman. 263 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: Jan. 2009 

Preservationlechnologies 

A WORLD LEADER IN COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION 

111 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
(724)779-2111 



